GRANT Gillespie says reuniting with former Hamilton Accies team-mate Dougie Imrie was the main reason behind his decision to join Morton.

The midfielder signed a one-year deal at Cappielow on Monday after leaving Queen's Park to join up with the Ton boss, who he shared a dressing room with for six years at New Douglas Park.

Gillespie remembers Imrie's will to win in their playing days together - and the 30-year-old believes the same attributes will get the best out of him next season.

He told the Tele: "Dougie saw that I wasn’t getting offered anything at Queen's Park and he just got in contact and said would I want to come to Morton.

"I shared a dressing room with Dougie for the best part of six years at Hamilton.

"Knowing him as a person, his character, the way he went about his playing career, and having watched a couple of his games towards the end of last season and the way he put his own character towards his team, I knew it was the right move.

"Once I had a conversation with him and saw how eager and keen he was to get me in the door, it was no-brainer in the end.

"I am delighted to get something sorted. I always enjoyed coming down and playing against Morton. They have always been tough games.

"To get something sorted and pretty quickly before the season starts was good.

"After speaking to Dougie and hearing his vision and what he has planned I was delighted to get it done."

The former Ayr United man hopes he can repay the faith that his new manager has shown in him after bringing him to Morton.

The midfielder believes his experience and leadership can be valuable assets to the side.

Gillespie said: "Dougie was the catalyst in getting me to sign.

"The way he spoke and the faith he is putting in me, he is the type of manager that will get the best out of me.

"It is up to me now to repay him, and show him and the Morton fans what I can do.

"I feel like I can bring experience having played nearly 400 games.

"I can bring good quality on the ball, and a bit of leadership.

"Dougie is looking to add a bit of experience and hopefully I can bring that to his team.

"I'm just looking forward to getting the season started against Falkirk in the League Cup."

Before completing his deal to join Morton, the midfielder had been training at Parklea with the first team squad since the start of pre-season training last week.

Gillespie says he feels settled with his new team-mates and is looking forward to Ton's pre-season friendly schedule kicking off today at Raydale Park against Annan Athletic.

He said: "I don’t actually know any of the boys personally.

"I haven’t played with any of them before apart from obviously Jai [Quitongo], who signed at the same time.

"But I have been in since the start of pre-season last Wednesday and they are a great bunch of boys.

"They have some experience and a few younger boys as well. They are a good group and I have enjoyed it even though it has only been a short time.

"I'm looking to kick on now with the friendlies starting."