A RACEHORSE owner who has tasted success at Royal Ascot has agreed to pump a 'substantial' lump sum into Morton over a long-term period.

Dr Jim Walker, who became an inaugural patron of supporters' investment group Morton Club Together (MCT) when it was set up, has now committed to putting funding into it over a sustained period.

Dr Walker is the owner of Gold Cup winning stallion Subjectivist and was one of the first major donors to sign up to MCT when it was set up back in 2019.

Now it has been announced that moving ahead he will contribute a substantial lump sum each year to the Ton via its community ownership body, which took over at Cappielow in 2021.

This cash is on top of his monthly MCT membership contribution, which will also continue.

Jim said: “Like hundreds of others, I joined MCT at the very start as I was convinced that what MCT is about is close to my heart.

"I believe that community ownership is the only way for Morton to optimise its role as a vital servant to the community and to do this successfully and sustainably both on the football pitch and as an asset for us all to enjoy and benefit from."

Jim is a lifelong fan of the club who has enjoyed a successful career in business as a chief economist and feels it is important to give back to the club.

He said: "As a Morton supporter, my motive for wanting to give something back is because of the years of pleasure and pain I had in the 1960s coming down from Kilbarchan to Cappielow and watching the team through thick and thin.

"The Benny Rooney era in the 1970s and 80s was the icing on the cake. So when the chance came up to be an MCT patron I was able and wanted to do this to play my part in helping both the community and Morton.

"I am glad I have done this and wanted to make a commitment to MCT by being a patron into the long term.

"I have seen how MCT has worked very hard to get the club to the position it is in, now owning both Morton and Cappielow on behalf of the community, and am confident that it will continue to drive Morton forward to what I believe could be bigger and better things.”

Morton Club Together is on track to reach the figure of £750,000 being funelled into the club by the end of this year.

The MCT board say they are delighted that Jim has shown his continued support to their project.

A statement said: “As one of our inaugural patrons Jim has shown, with others, an incredible financial and personal support for MCT in our ambition to drive Morton forward as a leading community owned football club.

"MCT is ambitious for Morton and the community and Jim wants to back us in this by continuing as a patron.

"While all MCT members, now numbering well over 1,000, are equal and vitally important as we operate on a ‘one person one vote’ approach, patrons have made and will continue to make a crucial financial contribution to our ability to achieve our ambitions.”

Patrons of the group can be individuals or businesses and can negotiate the value of their annual financial contributions and benefits. To date none of them sought any benefits for themselves or their firms and until now have wished to remain anonymous.

MCT said: "As we enter a new phase of driving community ownership of Morton and Cappielow forward, we would encourage and welcome you or anyone you know who wishes to confidentially explore becoming an MCT Patron."

Any interested parties can make contact with MCT's board by emailing business@mortonclubtogether.co.uk