MORTON have launched a major commercial drive to increase revenue in a bid to bolster Dougie Imrie's playing budget.

Earlier this week fans' investment group Morton Club Together appealed to supporters to raise their subscriptions and Imrie hinted that his budget could be tight in the summer transfer window.

Ton CEO Chris Ross has today told the Tele the club's top priority is to create extra income off the pitch to help boost the playing budget.

Ross says new commercial executive Mark Kelly, who joined the club in March from mobile network operator and internet service provider EE, will have a major part to play in achieving their goals.

The chief executive told the Tele: "It is just the pressure we put on ourselves as a club and to keep improving.

"Attention now turns to making sure our new commercial executive, Mark Kelly, is working as hard as he can, especially with myself and the team to improve the commercial run and to try and generate the resources that Dougie will need.

"That is where the attention focuses to right now as well.

"We need to make sure that we generate even more and as much as we can to help the manager.

"We said that throughout the season. Even when we were struggling in the league table everybody off the pitch had been doing their bit.

"What we said was that we couldn’t let our heads drop, regardless of the results on the pitch.

"Certainly off the pitch the staff knew what was expected.

"Obviously when the results improve as well, not only will people see more success on the park but will see better communication, seeing the club develop off the pitch as well.

"It goes with everyone at the club, everyone is committed to it and it is all about raising the standards.

"We just want to increase and build on the success of this season and we want to raise the standards even more."

MCT has ploughed more than £400k into the club and Ross praised the 900 supporters who have backed the initiative since it launched in 2019.

The Morton CEO believes the trust is going from strength to strength, with former Premier League boss Neil Warnock and Ton boss Imrie pledging their support.

Ross said: "MCT has done a number of initiatives this year to try and drum up new membership and increase sign-ups to the cause.

"It can only be welcomed having people like Dougie and Neil Warnock join.

"It brings about a new exposure and hopefully it shows fans that it is heading in the right direction.

"We are trying to appeal to a wider audience. Neil and Dougie themselves have big following.

"Lots of people admire what they did so it can only help us."

Ton ended the campaign in seventh place in the Championship table after Imrie successfully guiding the club to safety having been bottom when he took charge in December.

The CEO has paid credit to the 38-year-old for bringing the feel-good factor back to Cappielow.

He said: "It has been a bit of whirlwind for us.

"We have obviously had highs and lows throughout the season.

"From where we were at Christmas to where we are now, everybody at the club is delighted with the turnaround.

"In large parts a huge thanks goes to the manager for that."