MORTON have confirmed that tonight's Premier Sports Cup tie against East Kilbride will go ahead behind closed doors - hours before the tie is scheduled to kick off.

Uncertainty has surrounded the fixture after the club yesterday told the Tele that the game would be called off following talks with the SPFL and Inverclyde Council. 

They said that the stadium was being closed down for a deep clean following the coronavirus outbreak which saw Saturday's tie at Stranraer cancelled and suspended ticket sales.

The club have now confirmed the tie will take place behind closed doors less than three and a half hours before kick-off, with fans able to live-stream the game - and a day after they told us the game would be called off.  

Morton's latest statement confirming the game will take place said: "Following our earlier communication around tonight’s game, the club can confirm that the Premier Sports Cup match with East Kilbride will go ahead.

"The club have liaised with the SPFL on the issue, and while we have raised concerns around the safety of the game going ahead at Cappielow, the SPFL have insisted that since we have enough signed and tested players of all ages available to play, it should take place as planned.

"This situation is different from Saturday when we did not have enough players to field a team against Stranraer due to Covid issues.

"Following the positive test results, the club have taken all the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of players and staff. Those affected by Covid, or who have been identified as close contacts are currently self-isolating. A deep clean of the stadium has also been carried out over the last two days to try and minimise the risk.

"As communicated, tonight’s match will be behind closed doors. Despite being instructed that the game should go ahead, we do not feel it would be responsible to put supporters at risk by allowing them to attend Cappielow.

"We had previously offered last year’s season ticket holders a free ticket to tonight’s game, and all these supporters will have free access to the stream using their code from last season.

"With reference to this morning’s Greenock Telegraph article, the club would like to put on record that we did not confirm the game tonight was off at any point.

"We would like to apologise to our supporters for the uncertainty around tonight’s game, and the fact we will not be able to welcome you back to Cappielow tonight.

"We would also like to place on record our best wishes to those players and staff who have tested positive and hope that the action we have taken will allow you to all return safely a week on Saturday."

The Telegraph however were told, categorically before we went to press, that tonight's game would be cancelled.

This is the statement the club gave the Tele: “It is with the deepest regret that we have had to call off today’s match against East Kilbride.

“We were looking forward to welcoming spectators back into the stands for our first home game of the new season and it is unfortunate that we cannot welcome you all back just yet.

“Our priority was to keep the safety of not only our playing squad and staff at the club, but also the safety of the East Kilbride players, management and our supporters, paramount.

“Unfortunately, it has come to our attention that after recent events that have arisen over the weekend, we weren’t going to be able to do that in the current climate.

“After discussions with Inverclyde Council and the SPFL we have had no option but to close the stadium and call the game off."