NEW chief executive Warren Hawke believes Morton are a Premiership club in waiting – but won’t break the bank to make it happen this season. Jim Duffy’s side sit in third place in the Championship and are in great shape to make the end-of-season play-offs. Duffy has already brought in striker Lawrence Shankland this month and has two more players on his January wishlist.

Hawke and the rest of the board are supportive of the manager’s plans but warned that any progress would have to be achieved in a sensible manner. The 46 year-old was a player at Cappielow when Morton nearly went to the wall and made clear he would never put the club in jeopardy like that on his watch.

He told Times Sport: “We have to be a sustainable club as I never want to see the situation we were in back in 2001 when we were going to the wall and Douglas Rae, our current chairman, saved the club. He put a lot of money into the club and on an annual basis he’s continued to do so to get us to where we are today. I want to get to a position where this club is operating in the black on an annual basis but without having to rely on Mr Rae writing a cheque at the end of every year to offset any losses.

“We need to be at a level that we should be at. We have to have that aspiration. Will we ever be challenging Rangers and Celtic in the top tier? No, we have to be realistic. But this board has aspirations for this club to be at the next level. It will be a gradual process but it’s about controlling the controllables. If we get everything that is under our control right then we will be moving in the right direction.”

Duffy took Morton out of League One in his first season in charge, led them to fifth last season before improving again this season. Hawke was full of praise for the progress made.

He added: “I’ve got a very good relationship with Jim as do the other directors. He’s straight down the middle and supports the club every way he can. He’s done a phenomenal job for us so far. In the first season we asked him to get us promoted and he managed it. The season after that was one of consolidation and he got us fifth in the Championship. This year we’re in January in third place which is terrific. We’ve been winning this year and consistent but the football has been far more attractive as well. It’s been a really good standard of play.

“We’re in a good place and we will support Jim between now and the end of the season. We’ll see where we are come May and whether we have an extended season to enjoy and stress about.”

Morton haven’t lost at home for almost a year but still struggle to draw a crowd, with fewer than 2000 at their last league game against Raith Rovers. Hawke urged any fair-weather fans to come out to Cappielow if they can.

“I would encourage all Morton people – even if you’re not supporting us regularly at the moment – to come along and see what’s been happening. Give us a chance, experience the atmosphere and the positive vibe around the club.

“There’s a feelgood factor throughout the team and behind the scenes as well. There’s a buzz among the Morton staff and the community staff too. It’s a very positive place to be right now.”