NEW assistant manager Peter Houston insisted it was a no-brainer for him to join Morton.

The former Falkirk and Dundee United boss became Jonatan Johansson’s number two on Friday, penning a two-year deal with the Greenock club.

He was in the dugout for Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Dunfermline, and loved being back involved on the touchline.

The 60-year-old has spoken previously about how he didn’t want to return to the game as a manager, and was much more content being an assistant. 

Houston says he is looking forward to supporting Johansson through his first managerial job.

He told the Tele: “When Jonatan, a young guy who has good experience at coaching youth and reserves and with the Rangers first team, wanted to take on his first manager’s job then he was someone I wanted to come in and help and work alongside him.

“He’s certainly bright, he’s capable and he’s enthusiastic. My experiences of being a manager will help him along the way and I will respect his decision-making.

“I’ve had my days as being a manager and I’m happy to be an assistant, my involvement will be everyday with the players and the coaching.

“I’ll let the young guys learn their trade and if I can help them along the way and to help make Jonatan a better manager and Morton a better team it’s a win-win for me.”

Houston admitted that stepping away from the hotseat was a decision he had made in advance of last season, when he was entering the final year of his contract as Falkirk manager.

But after their poor start, the Bairns boss left the club last September.

He added: “While it didn’t end well at Falkirk, the board knew it would be my final year as being a manager.

“I’ve spent a lot of time in football being a manager for years and years and felt I’d done my time in terms of the management side of things and I was happy to pass it on.

“Other people are different and like to continue until they’re 70 years of age, but I’m at an age where I don’t want the stress and the hassle that goes with it. 

“I’m happy to coach and train players and work alongside somebody who wants to take all the nonsense that goes with it. 

“I’ll do the hard work on the training pitch and I’ll enjoy it, as I was an assistant for many years as well.

“It was my decision, and it gives me more time to spend with my family as well.”

Houston says there is plenty to work on at the training ground this week after Morton’s performance against Dunfermline at the weekend.

He said: “I was watching the game through my hands on Saturday because we were so open.

“I hope Morton fans don’t judge us on that game as we’ll work hard and develop a shape and get the players going about their business properly and winning matches.

“If I’m being honest I thought we were really poor. I didn’t expect it, and if we have any ambition to be up challenging at the top end of the table then the level of performance will have to go up quite a bit.

“We were slack, we gave the ball away far too cheaply, we didn’t pass the ball nearly well enough. 

All over the pitch, apart from the back four who I felt defended the box well, I thought the overall performance wasn’t of the standard that we need it to be if we want to be up at the top end.

“To be fair to the players, they’ve taken on board what we’ve said, even some bits of criticism that were thrown to them yesterday at the video analysis.”