Diack and Collins Depart

Two Morton players have officially left the club today for pastures new. One is a veteran stalwart who has more than once given the title "Mr. Morton"; the other is a journeyman pro who signed amidst much hype last summer but figured little in the first team squad. The contrasts between the players could not be greater, but they both today found a little common ground by bidding Cappielow farewell.

Iain Diack, the ex-Albion Rovers forward, has returned to his previous club of Arbroath following an unsuccessful spell at Cappielow. A handful of first team appearances, during which he was dogged by injury, did little to endear him to the Cappielow punters. A loan spell at East Stirlingshire in December followed these outings, with limited match exposure due to poor weather. However, the die was cast, as it seemed apparent that Diack would be unable to win back a meaningful role at Morton. After completing negotiations to leave the club on Friday, he today secured his short-term future by signing for Arbroath before the transfer window had a chance to slam shut on his Gilmore's groin. Diack is now a Red Lichtie until at least the end of the season.

As for Derek Collins, his departure is shrouded in mystery. A team selection debacle over the weekend resulted in mixed messages from 'Ton boss Jim McInally and Derek Collins over whether or not the player was still contracted to, and devoted to, the Morton cause. Dean Keenan deputised for the veteran right-back, with Collins finally confirming that he would today leave Greenock to take up a player-coach role with cash-strapped, bare-bones Gretna FC. Gretna bankroller Brooks Mileson (pictured below with his Aston Martin and Kenny Deuchar) sees Collins as an ideal signing to impart both experience off the pitch, and defensive reliability on it, to his plucky team of unknown youngsters.

Morton, meanwhile, are left with a threadbare defensive lineup, and - perhaps more worryingly - a side notably bereft of experience. Stuart McCluskey, relieved of captaincy duties earlier in the season in favour of Collins and now Greacen, will need to do his utmost to keep his younger counterparts on track, while Stuart Greacen must be prepared to do what it takes to demonstrate that he is a worthy and able captain who can steer Morton away from tempestuous mid-table mediocrity and towards the safe haven of Port Division One. The recent loan signings may well go a long way to redressing the talent balance at Morton, but as to whether or not they have the wherewithall, gumption, know-how, streetwisdom and - above all - moxie to take Morton back to Division One, the jury is very much out.