MORTON full-back Lewis Strapp has backed manager Dougie Imrie to build on their successful second half of the campaign.

The Greenock side travel to Gayfield to face Arbroath tonight in their final game of the season, as Imrie’s men look to end the season on a high after securing safety with results going in their favour last weekend.

With the club's Championship future confirmed, the Morton boss yesterday revealed he will begin preparing for next season in the coming days.

Strapp is confident Imrie will do everything necessary to take the team forward next term.

He told the Tele: "Now that the club is cemented in that spot, knowing that we are going to be in the Championship, they can work out a budget.

"Now they can start telling players what their plans are for next year and hopefully keep a good squad together.

"We have a right good squad there. If some boys aren’t staying the club will want to keep a good handful of them.

"It will be exciting, it is obviously up to the gaffer and he will do his best with whatever budget he gets.

"I just hope the club can back him and it is an exciting year.

"What Dougie has done since he has come in is worthy of us having a right go and I’m looking forward to it."

The 22-year-old believes the positive mindset instilled in the squad since the 38-year-old took over has been key to the side's transformation.

He said: "It is a great group of boys. We had it there but it just didn’t click.

"That was because we were maybe a bit negative. Since the gaffer has come in everything has been so positive. After the first game against Killie, I spoke to him just after we left Parklea and he said we will win tomorrow [against Dunfermline].

"It was the shake-up we needed. We have a belief that we can win.

"Ever since the gaffer has come in, he wants to win games and that is half the battle. If you have that in your head that you are going to go out and try and win then that is all you can ask."

The Ton head up to Gayfield tomorrow knowing a win against Dick Campbell’s could see them finish as high as sixth place.

Strapp insists they won't rest on their laurels after achieving their main objective of staying in the Championship and believes a sixth-place finish would be a brilliant achievement.

He added: "The gaffer has got us at it. It is still a big incentive for us to finish sixth.

"It would be an amazing achievement for us and for the club as well. It brings in the club more money if we can win tomorrow and hopefully finish in sixth place.

"I don’t know about budgets and things like that, but I don’t think you can complain if Morton are finishing sixth in the Championship.

"That is a great season for us considering the first half of the season."