MORTON chief executive Dave MacKinnon says new boss David Hopkin's side will give their all to turn Cappielow back into a fortress.
As the club prepares to get into competitive action in the Betfred Cup opener against Dumbarton, MacKinnon says he feels Morton has 'reconnected' with the community after a period of hard work behind the scenes.
He says the arrival of Hopkin sparked wholesale change around Cappielow, including new dressing rooms, physio rooms and dugouts, as well as providing a launchpad for various commercial partnerships across Greenock.
Speaking to the Tele, MacKinnon said: “These last few months have been crucial, they have been a breath of fresh air for the club.
“Just two months back there was the resignations of the manager and the former chief exec.
“We’re still not 100 per cent there yet, but we’ve got a positive team, new facilities and we’re using Cappielow as a base.
“We’re now engaging with the local community again; we’ve got fans coming to meet the players and we’ve done deals with various businesses in the area to generate extra income for the club.
“Off the park it’s quite remarkable what we’ve done in such a short space of time.
“We’re now re-engaged with the community and that’s a huge thing because Morton Football Club should never lose its identity.
“I think there was a period where there was a potential divide between the club and the fans and that had to be tackled.
“The fans are very vocal but most importantly they’re very loyal and supportive. We’ve all got the same agenda, to get a winning team on the park.
“Everything we’ve done off the park, from the ground staff to the chairman, sponsors and directors want a team that the supporters can be proud of.”
MacKinnon praised manager Hopkin for his part in changing the culture around the club.
He added: “We’ve got a wonderful manager who plays the game the right way.
“The squad are all learning through his coaching. I’ve been around the game and David's coaching ability is second to none, we’re incredibly lucky to have him here.
“I’ve spoken to fans and told them we might not win every game, but you’ll be able to see a team walk off the park who’ve given everything for the jersey.
“There’s still some things to be done and a couple of players to bring in but we’re working hard to do that.
“I remember as a player that Cappielow was a place you didn't want to visit as the fans were right on top of you and so were the players.
“That’s what we want to create, a place where the fans and players have a great unity.
“We’ve got a great management team at the side of the park and a great set of players who are learning what the manager demands of them.
“I watched training for the first time when BT Sport were here doing a feature for the Motherwell game and the players were enthused by it all, which is fantastic going forward.
“There’s a great feeling about the place from the top right down.
“It’s a joy to be associated with Morton just now and we can't wait to get started."