MORTON chief executive Dave MacKinnon has told of his gratitude towards supporters for rallying together to save the club in excess of £20,000.

The Tele can reveal that over 95 per cent of season ticket holders turned down the opportunity of a partial refund for the four remaining home games they missed out on last season when Covid-19 put a stop to all footballing activity in Scotland.

Mr MacKinnon says only 2.5 per cent of season ticket holders opted to take the club up on the offer of a refund.

Half of those who did then chose to donate their money back into fans' investment group Morton Club Together as they gear up for community ownership next summer.

Now the club is already halfway to selling the same number of season cards for 2020/21 as it did last term, with the new league campaign still seven weeks away.

MacKinnon told the Tele: “On behalf of everyone at the club and the board of directors I’d like to thank the fans for their incredible gesture in respect of the partial refunds of the season tickets.

“It’s saved the club in excess of £20,000 and has meant that the fans have played such a massive part in having a club to come back to on the back of this horrible virus.

“Just 2.5 per cent of them had approached the club for refunds and of that percentage, half of them said that they were going to donate their refunds to Morton Club Together.

“It really does prove that the Morton fans are truly to be admired.

"I can’t thank them personally and on behalf of the club enough.

“That gesture by the Morton fans is incredible and I can’t say enough about it.

"Their support and generosity through what is a truly unprecedented and really difficult time is magnificent and they deserve a medal for that.

“We fully understood that it was difficult for some fans in regard to the refunds and we fully support them for their honesty in approaching us and we’ve given them their money back with an open heart.

“It’s another incredible gesture from those fans who did ask for refunds to then directly donate that money back to MCT.

“It’s a hugely positive thing during these times."

MacKinnon admits he has been blown away by the support shown from the Ton faithful ever since he first walked through the door as just over a year ago.

He highlighted the ongoing support shown by them by revealing that the club are well over halfway to last year's season ticket numbers.

He said: “It really is an incredible gesture from the fans of Greenock Morton and we’re indebted to them.

“All credit goes to the supporters, they never fail to amaze me with their generosity for the club.

“Already after just three weeks of season ticket sales, we’re at 60 per cent of last year's total and we’ve still got seven weeks until we’re back in action.

"It's another sign of just how important the fans are and we’re so grateful for them.

“Ever since I have come to the club, I’ve been blown away by their heartfelt support and generosity towards the club and the community."