MORTON have sealed a significant six-figure cash boost after agreeing a stadium naming deal with a technology firm.

Ton bosses have announced an 'exciting' new partnership with Dalrada Technology UK, saying it is the largest independent one in the club’s history.

It will see Dalrada take the naming rights for the stadium, which will become formally known as Cappielow Park supported by Dalrada Technology UK.

The deal will also see the firm giving the club access to its IT development and marketing teams, helping to modernise the way it is run.

Dalrada chief executive Bill Bonar spoke exclusively to the Tele yesterday as the deal was unveiled and revealed his family's ties to Greenock.

Mr Bonar said: “As a kid growing up in the Strone, a lot of my happiest memories were going to watch Morton play with my dad, Colin, who sadly passed away last year at IRH.

"Dalrada itself is a Scottish company, but part of Dalrada Financial Corporation based in the USA.

"The CEO and chairman of the board there is Brian Bonar, my uncle.

"Brian and the whole family are from Greenock.

"He used to be one of the directors at IBM, worked his way up there and started his own company, sold it then moved on to the States and started building more.

"His heart has still always been in Greenock - his brother, my late father Colin, who died in an accident, and my mother and his sister all lived in Greenock.

"Sadly they have all passed away now except my mother, so his heart is always here.

"Morton was always the club that my grandfather and father and the full family used to come watch every weekend.

"When the opportunity came up to sponsor the club, and also to get some naming rights for the family and the company, we jumped at the chance.

"It was a personal thing and a business one, a dream come true and an opportunity we seized on."

Mr Bonar believes the new partnership will bring great benefits for Ton.

He said: "We want to help the club, modernise it, put modern technology in, reduce its carbon emissions, help it become a green club.

"Morton is a great club, it has been here for a long time.

"The company and family are quite proud and emotional about being involved here, hopefully it is a partnership that will evolve over time and we’ll stay with the club and help on a daily basis."

Morton finance director Michael Harkins says he is 'absolutely delighted' with the deal.

He said: “It has been no secret that funds have been tight at the club and we have been working hard to generate new income.

"This partnership is a significant financial one for Greenock Morton, and alongside the continued support of the amazing Morton Club Together membership, is one that gives us a really strong foundation to build from.”

As part of the agreement, Dalrada representative Ross Gourdie has been appointed to the club’s board of directors.

Mr Gourdie is the chief exec of Premier Air Charter and holds a UEFA Class B coaching licence and will aim to bring fresh business and football knowledge into the boardroom.

Sam Robinson, of Ton owners MCT, believes the new partnership gives the club a real opportunity to grow on and off the park.

He said: "The idea of rebuilding Cappielow is a non-starter for the foreseeable future and we need to make what is a 19th century football stadium exist in the 21st century.

"That is what I am excited about in working with Bill.

"If we can do that, then we’ve taken a major step forward.

"This is a community-owned club and that was a big part in the selling factor.

"This deal with Dalrada allows to us to move past keeping the lights and on and cutting the grass, there are a lot of possibilities in this partnership."

Morton director Graham Barr added: “For the club to have access to the resources and expertise that Dalrada are going to provide is going to be extremely valuable for us.

"We operate with a small team of hard-working staff, and this additional support will enable us to drive further forward in areas that have been a challenge.”