SFA FINE MORTON FOR FRIENDLY
MORTON have been hit with a suspended SFA fine after admitting breaking rules by staging a friendly without permission — but the Cappielow club insist there was ‘no Covid breach’ in the unauthorised fixture. The Championship strugglers have been fined £750 but will pay nothing if they stick by the regulations for the remainder of the season. Morton faced Evro Football Pro — a team made up of trialists — in a bounce game on March 10 but failed to seek permission from the SFA. A Morton statement said: ‘The club can confirm that we have been disciplined for a breach of the SFA regulations in relation to a recent match played in Glasgow. ‘The breach was brought to our attention after the game, and we accepted that an error had been made in the facilitation of this match. ‘There was no Covid breach… and we never faced the possibility of having the “book thrown at us”. Rather, last week’s tribunal was very supportive and understanding of the position of the club.’ Morton travel to face Motherwell in this evening’s Scottish Cup fourthround clash, with the home side boosted by Scotland full-back
Stephen O’Donnell this week committing himself to a new two-year deal to stay at Fir Park. The 28-year-old had previously agreed only short-term contracts with his local club but has jumped at the chance to provide some clarity for himself and his family. ‘It was always the intention to extend it,’ said O’Donnell. ‘These things never seem to be as simple as you like to think they will be. I’m looking forward to just focusing on the next month and trying to bring more consistency to the team. If we can start that with a win against Morton, that would be great.’
Nicky clark is hoping a return to a happy hunting ground can help him fire Dundee United into the quarterfinals at Forfar’s expense this evening. The striker has enjoyed some prolific form on his previous trips to Station Park, having scored four goals in a 6-1 win against Forfar for rangers. He also netted five goals in two games in quick succession at the angus ground in 2013, the first a 6-0 win against Brechin that clinched the Second Division title for Queen of the South. However, clark (left) has enough experience of the lower leagues to know United cannot afford to take their Scottish cup opponents lightly. ‘i have good memories up there, i won the league there with Queen of
the South, against Brechin,’ recalled Clark. ‘Some of the boys here have never played at Forfar but there’s a few of us that have. You can definitely use that to your advantage. ‘It’s good to know the surroundings but it’s not going to be an easy game. Forfar will be right up for it, it’s live on the telly, so all the players will want to put on a good show. We need to make sure we are right at it.’ Forfar have been boosted by the arrival of the vastly experienced former Aberdeen assistant manager
Tony Docherty, who has agreed to help interim player/boss Gary Irvine. Docherty met the players before Tuesday’s League One loss to Airdrieonians as the Loons’ winless run was extended to seven games. But striker Scott Shepherd insists Docherty has already had a positive impact on the squad. ‘Bringing Doc in has lifted it up a notch with the level he’s coached at,’ said Shepherd. ‘You know straight away he knows his stuff and you are going to be getting the right advice.’