NO RAY OF SUNSHINE IN LA
Andy got call on holiday to say Ton were dumping him
ANDY MURDOCH’S relaxing holiday to Los Angeles became fraught when he received the call telling him his time at Morton was over.
But eight months later things could hardly be better as he chases the Championship title with Ayr, 13 points clear of the Greenock side ahead of today’s trip to Cappielow. Murdoch was told by former Ton boss Ray McKinnon he wasn’t being offered a new deal during a sunshine trip to America.
The 24-year-old admitted he feared the worst but is delighted with how things have worked out after Ian McCall came to his rescue.
Murdoch said: “I had two years at Morton. The first season went well but in the second season we were a bit inconsistent and disappointed with how it ended.
“When Ray McKinnon came in he didn’t want me so my time was up. I was on holiday in LA when I got the call to say my contract wasn’t being
renewed. It was on my mind during the holiday and I was in a bit of a panic for a couple of days but I got myself together.
“When I returned home my agent told me Ayr wanted me. I spoke to Ian McCall so it’s all worked out well considering where we are in the league.
“If you’d told me when I got the call to say Morton were letting me go that a few months later I’d be sitting second in the table with Ayr I wouldn’t have believed you.
“We hope to keep up our good form. We had a sticky patch in December and January so hopefully we can put a good run together to take us into March.
“I obviously know a few of the boys at Morton and it will be good to see them again.
“We have a bit of banter in the build-up to the game and we’ll wind each other up afterwards depending on what way the result goes.”
Morton have had three defeats in their last four and Reghan Tumility revealed the players made the most of last week’s free Scottish Cup weekend.
He said: “The break probably came at a good time and a few of the boys met up to boost team morale. We met up for some lunch. It’s about a bit of team bonding which is good.
“We’ve put in some decent performances without getting the results so we need to start putting points on the board.
“I don’t think there’s any major issues. Everyone beats everyone in the league and we’ve had two weeks to work hard on a gameplan for Ayr.
“We had a friendly against Motherwell and put some things into practice so hopefully it comes off.”
I was in a bit of a panic for a couple of days but I got myself together ANDY MURDOCH