MORTON manager Jonatan Johansson has admitted the Ton’s precarious league position means contract talks with players are on hold.

Several first team players had begun re-signing last month, with young midfielders Reece Lyon and Dylan Dykes extending their Cappielow contracts.

The manager had looked to carry out more business, with only the young duo along with reserves goalkeeper Brendan Pearson signed on for next season.

Several players at the club have triggered extensions to their current deal, with Morton chief executive Warren Hawke revealing at the club’s recent supporters’ Q and A session that Gregor Buchanan had recently activated his clause for a new deal, as well as Chris Millar and captain Jim McAlister.

The Ton had also been looking into other options, with chairman Crawford Rae saying at the meeting Dundee loanee Kerr Waddell would cost the club approximately £30,000 in compensation if they were to sign the 20-year-old from the Dens Park outfit.

But with Morton’s slide down the table in recent weeks, Johansson says talks cannot continue.

Morton sit in seventh place in the Championship, but are just two points off the bottom and one point above the relegation play-off spot with four games to go. They have a game in hand over some of their rivals, with Johansson’s side in action tomorrow against Inverness Caley Thistle.

While planning will continue, the manager accepts no more business will be done until his side are safe.

He told the Tele: “Because of what is happening, we’re making plans all the time, but there will be nothing concrete for the next couple of weeks.”