THE man who set up a fans' group which went on to complete a successful community takeover of Morton within just two years is stepping down as he continues to battle a brain tumour.

Morton Club Together founder Graham McLennan will no longer be on the boards of the group and the club, as he puts his health first.

Graham founded MCT in 2019 with the aim of providing additional financial help for Morton to sign players.

His vision was for MCT to pump money into the club and build a shareholding, with the club's debts to its then-owners Golden Casket being written off in phases.

From a standing start, the plan quickly captured the public's imagination and hundreds of supporters signed up to pledge cash every month.

As more and more people joined and circumstances at the club changed, the goal of MCT shifted towards bringing community ownership to the club.

In just two short years, with much of that time spent in Covid lockdowns, that dream became a reality as MCT’s fan-backed takeover of Greenock Morton was confirmed in September 2021.

Greenock Telegraph:

Less than a year after setting up MCT Graham was diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour after suffering a seizure at his home.

Since February 2020 he has bravely continued in his roles despite going through gruelling craniotomy surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy and suffering from extreme fatigue.

The 52-year-old dad of three from Kingston Dock has now decided to put his focus fully on his health by moving aside from his positions, with the move being announced by Morton Club Together to its near-1,000-strong membership.

Their statement said: "For the past three years many of you will know that alongside tirelessly doing everything he can to make MCT and community ownership a success, Graham has also been living with cancer, after being diagnosed with a brain tumour in February 2020 and going through surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

"Those of you that know Graham won’t be surprised to hear that while he’s stepping back from being an active board member, he wants to continue doing what he can, time and health permitting, to move Morton forward.

"Graham will remain a close advisor to the MCT board and Morton board have also unanimously agreed to keep Graham as an honorary director, which will allow him to contribute when he is able."

The group also hailed Graham's pioneering initiative and hard work to successfully see the club into community hands.

They added: "Everyone at Greenock Morton and Morton Club Together would like to say a massive thank-you to Graham for his incredible contribution since 2019.

"The reality is, that without his idea and desire to launch MCT, community ownership at Cappielow wouldn’t have been possible."

The group is now set to make moves to add a new representative from its ranks to become a director at Cappielow.

It says it will inform members of the next steps in that process shortly.