MORTON manager Gus MacPherson today applauded the ambition shown by the club's new owners after securing the signing of former Livingston captain Alan Lithgow.

Lithgow has agreed a two-year deal with the option of a third and MacPherson believes he is just the type of player to provide the stability he is looking for at the club going forward under the new Morton Club Together regime.

The manager says the 33-year-old new recruit is keen to get going after a 15-month spell on the sidelines through injury.

MacPherson told the Tele: “We’re delighted to have brought Alan into the club.

“We’re looking to try and get good professionals and leaders into the group and Alan ticks all those boxes for us.

“We’ve worked hard to get him and we’re just glad to have him on board, as there was interest in him from other clubs.

"We knew that would be the case but myself and Andy Millen met and spoke to him, which helped us get it over the line.

“He’s got a two-year deal with the option of a third, so again it’s ambitious from the club and it’s tying in with what we’re trying to do – stabilise the club and make sure that there’s continuity there.

“That’s not just with players, that goes for staff too as you’re trying to make the club stronger."

MacPherson says that the experience Lithgow brings to the table will be crucial as he looks to mould a new-look side.

He told the Telegraph: “The key bit is trying to bring in big characters and Alan’s been on that rollercoaster up the leagues with Livingston, going from League Two to the Premier League with them.

“He’s been through the divisions and he’s come out the other side of it and been a very very good defender in the Premier League.

“He’s had his injury, which was elongated due to Covid, and he’s been out longer than he needs to be.

"He's suffered in that sense, which is the case for everyone, but we’re delighted that we’ve been able to bring him on board.”

The Ton chief revealed he now hopes to add another couple of experienced faces to his group so that he can get the right balance to his squad.

He said: “We’ve got Brian McLean, Kyle Jacobs and now Alan, so hopefully we can add another couple.

“We've got to get the balance right, with a group of good experienced players that are still hungry.

“You’ve then got to have the young players who are hungry and have the enthusiasm but also want to listen and take it all in from these guys.

“I know that these experienced guys will be good not only for the football club but for the younger players as well.”