GOUROCK footballer Nicky Jamieson says his decision to turn down full time football with Morton for an apprenticeship has paid off after signing for Championship side Alloa.

The former Morton youth has penned a one-year deal with the part-timers after quietly working his way through the ranks of Scottish football in the last few years.

Nicky was with Largs Thistle as little as two seasons ago, pictured, and after a successful stint with Queen's Park he will now be plying his trade in the same league as Ton.

The 23-year-old says he is desperate to prove his worth at Championship level with Peter Grant’s side.

He told the Tele: “I left Morton in 2014 when I was 17 to take up an accountancy apprenticeship and it was five years of studying, which I've only finished in the last year.

“David Hopkin was the reserves manager back then and actually wanted to keep me on for another year but I knew I wouldn’t be getting anywhere near the first team, simply because I wasn’t ready.

“A few of the boys that I’d signed with at the same time stayed on for a year or two but none of them made it through either and they are playing amateur now, so things might not have went down the path they have.

“Football can be a strange game, everything has fallen into place for me ever since I left.

“I’ve got another point to prove in moving to Alloa and that’s how I’ve approached the full scenario - I want to prove to people that I’m good enough to play and compete at this level.

“I’ve got to show that I deserve the chance that I’ve been given, and I need to take it with both hands.

“The aim when I was at Largs was always to play senior and develop my game.

"I managed to do well there and signed for Queen's Park and now I am making another step up.

“I’m proud that I did well last year and proved that I can play at that level, and I’ll go through the same mindset again now.

“It’s mindblowing that I was only playing juniors two years ago and now I’ve got the opportunity to play in the Championship, albeit on a part-time basis.

“That’s something I’ve always wanted to say."

The boyhood Ton fan says he is looking forward to turning out at Cappielow against old boss Hopkin’s side.

He said: “It’s going to be strange, firstly because Hoppy was my manager in the reserves for two years and secondly because I used to go to the Morton games when I was younger with my dad.

“I think he’s glad that I’ll be playing a bit closer to home, compared to Elgin and Annan like I was last year, or even going down to Ayrshire the last few years to watch me play in front of ten guys and a dog in the juniors.

“I’m delighted he’ll be able to see me turn out at Cappielow.”