DAVID Hopkin has been appointed as manager of Morton on a three-year contract. The Greenock-born former Scotland international, who fills the vacancy created by Jonatan Johansson’s controversial departure on the last day of the season, returns to Cappielow for a fourth time after two separate spells as a player and a period on the backroom staff.
A debutant for his hometown club at the age of 19 back in the late 1980s, Hopkin left for Chelsea in 1992 as he embarked on a decade-long career in the English game which also saw him score a play-off winning goal from Crystal Palace and captain Leeds United, earning seven caps for his country.
While he joins after a spell at Bradford City, Hopkin’s managerial credentials in the Scottish game are impressive, having led Livingston to back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premierships. Linked with the post last summer prior to the appointment of Ray McKinnon, Hopkin was chairman Crawford Rae’s first choice this time around.
“Attracting David back to the club is a massive coup for us, especially when he has been offered so many positions since leaving Livingston,” Rae told the club's official website. "David is a phenomenal coach and we are delighted that he will be working to further develop our home-grown talent while building a squad that will hopefully bring absent supporters back to Cappielow.
“David knows that it will take time to build and mould his team for the future, which is why we are both delighted to commit to a three-year term. This will provide the stability that we consider vital as we look to build a strong foundation upon which we can take the club forward and give us a chance of taking this fine club back to the top flight.”
The Rae family are scaling back their financial involvement in Morton after a decade or so in charge and are keen to see supporters have more involvement. Morton Club Together, a scheme whereby supporters can bankroll the team and buy a role in guiding the club’s future, was launched recently and is gathering momentum. “To achieve this, we need your help,” added Rae. “Moving forward we want to see supporters have greater involvement at Morton and have a greater say in how the club will be run in the future.
“If our supporters really want to see the club flourish then this is the time for our fans to get involved with Morton Club Together (MCT) and make a pledge. Every penny donated will go directly towards raising Hoppy’s budget while increasing the MCT shareholding in Greenock Morton from shares gifted back from the Rae family. I firmly believe we are seeing the dawn of a new era for the club and look forward to working with our management team, players, and our supporters to bring success back to Morton FC. Let Morton club together.”
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