MCT board at full strength as new members co-opted

By Russell Steele

 

NEW directors have been co-opted onto the board of Morton Club Together as it looks towards an exciting new era. 

 

Sandra Macgregor and Chic Kavanagh are the latest additions to the team, and they will be joined by Stuart Duncan, who becomes an associate director.

 

The trio bring a wealth of diverse experience to the table and will work alongside colleagues and the new operational team to galvanise MCT and help move Morton forward. 

 

This move is the latest step in the process of strengthening MCT as it moves into a fresh phase just over five years after being set up. 

 

Following the recent election of Graham McLennan and Ronnie Millar after a vote of members, today's announcement means that the MCT board is once again operating at full capacity. 

 

New director Sandra, born and bred in Port Glasgow, worked extensively across the public and third sectors in the west of Scotland after graduating with a politics and sociology degree before studying for a postgraduate qualification in community education. 

 

Latterly, as manager in charge of community education in West Dunbartonshire, she was responsible for adult learning, youth services, community development and 12 community centres. During her career Sandra has been in charge of overseeing budgets in excess of £3m, plus recruitment, management and development of up to 150 staff. 

 

A former Morton matchday programme contributor, she previously served on an MCT strategy working group, focusing on governance matters, and has been a trustee of Morton in the Community since 2020. 

 

Sandra said: "Throughout my period of involvement in MCT it became clear that the skills, talent and commitment amongst the Morton support exist in abundance.  

 

"In the current football climate, with clubs such as Dumbarton and ICT plummeting into administration, community ownership and control is the best way to protect the existence of our own football club. 

 

"I also believe that being imaginative and proactive in respect of securing future sponsorship and external investors will be essential. However, in my opinion our football club must retain community ownership in order to be in control of its own destiny. The role of a well-organised MCT board and effective MCT representation on the football club board is central to this." 

 

Sandra says that her current personal objective for MCT and the football club is for both to 'become more inclusive and family-friendly'. 

 

She added: "I’m currently working with a small group of ‘Ton women supporters who are keen to progress women’s issues and have their voices heard by the football club. We have already met with the club's general manager and made a number of suggestions to him which he is taking on board." 

 

Fellow new addition Chic, who comes from Greenock and works locally for Tesco, is a qualified football referee and he played a key role in the successful Save the Ton campaign of 2000-01 which kept the club alive during administration. 

 

He says more work needs to be done to ensure that the opportunities and benefits of fan ownership are maximised. 

 

Chic said: "At the forefront of my belief is that the direction of Morton should be led by us, the fans. There needs to be a renewed approach between MCT and the club to forge a new, genuine partnership of equals in shaping club direction. For this to happen, we need strong members on the board of MCT.  

 

"In 2000 I played a significant leadership role in the Save the Ton campaign. The club was thankfully saved from liquidation at the eleventh hour, but getting to that point was a long and arduous journey, built on time, efforts and dedication of a whole host of passionate Morton fans who worked tirelessly. 

 

"These are the traits that I believe we need again to rejuvenate the club. MCT can be the vehicle that drives positive change in Morton FC. With over 1,000 members paying significant contributions every month, we have a unique level of influence that we need to start using. 

 

"We all have ambition for our club to be better and by working with the wider fanbase we have it in our power to drive that ambition into genuine change." 

 

New associate director Stuart, from Gourock, spent over 30 years with IBM as a project manager, specialising in business transformation. He led the deployment of business improvement applications for the company across Europe. 

 

He also has a well-established background in the football sector, having set up the Greenock Morton Supporters' Trust and then been a director at Cappielow for a number of years. Stuart also previously served as a director of MCT and is delighted to be returning in a new role, where he will provide vital support to the board. 

 

He said: "Throughout my time supporting Morton, I’ve held various directorial roles, all of which were closely tied to the club. From 2008 to 2011, I served as a club director during the Douglas Rae years. 

 

"In addition, I’ve been involved with Morton in the Community, have been a director of Supporters Direct UK, GMST and MCT, giving me a clear understanding of the challenges faced by volunteer-led organisations like MCT. 

 

"Now that I’m retired and have more time, I’d like to use my experience and expertise to help both MCT and the club continue to grow and thrive. 

 

"I’m confident that my experience positions me well to help MCT become more effective and make Greenock Morton FC a club that supporters can be proud of — one that is more deeply embedded in the community."