ALLAN McGraw reckons David Hopkin is the perfect man to drive Morton forward – because he showed in his time at Livingston that he can make the most of whatever resources are at his disposal. The 48-year-old, a product of Greenock, was given his debut at his local side by McGraw, during the late 1980s, soon earning a £350,000 move to Chelsea which proved one of the club’s most profitable ever transfers. It set in train a career which saw Hopkin earn seven Scotland caps, grace clubs like Crystal Palace and Leeds, and rack-up £11m in transfer fees, all of which generated generous sell-ons for the Cappielow outfit.

Back in Scotland after an unsuccessful stint at Bradford City, Hopkin arrives at Cappielow hoping to emulate his heroics at Livingston, who he led to the back-to-back promotions which currently see them in the Ladbrokes Premiership. He does so, however, at a time of boardroom uncertainty, with budgets being cut and the Rae family unable to back the club in the manner they used to prior to the passing of former chairman Douglas. A supporters’ alliance called Morton Club Together (MCT) have launched a scheme for fans to pledge financial assistance for the club, targeting £400,000 in return for 15% of the club’s shares.

McGraw, who will show his support for MCT as they meet at the Greenock Wanderers’ clubhouse today, reckons that if anyone knows how to prosper in these surroundings it is Hopkin, who has Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes for company as part of McGraw’s ‘coaching tree’. The manager yesterday signed Kalvin Orsi, a 22-year-old winger from Brechin, and re-signed Reghan Tumilty, although Gregor Buchanan has indicated that he will be moving on.

“I’m glad it is Hoppy going in,” McGraw told Herald Sport. “I’m sure he will do a good job, because he knows the club. He knows there isn’t going to be any money, and he will work within that.

“He will be limited in terms of funds, but he was limited at Livingston too,” the 79-year-old added. “And he will do the best he can with what he works with. That is what I am looking forward to.

“He’s good at assessing what players are capable of – I think that is one of his best assets. He recognises that some players can’t do things, and some can. I was surprised he didn’t get the job last year.”

McGraw is happy to be associated with MCT – a group which also has the backing of Morton legend Andy Ritchie. After only a matter of weeks of existence, their pledging total is £112,550 from 283 pledgers and growing daily. “I think the scheme is great and I hope it pays off for them,” said McGraw. “The club needs money. People will say about the Rae family but running football club is a bottomless pit, isn’t it? So I wouldn’t knock them. Myself and Douglas didn’t always get on but he put money into the club. People say there must be other people out there wanting to take the club on but I don’t know – it is hard to put money in because you are not going to get it back out. If you put the net out wide sometimes you can get something back from Morton supporters abroad.”