Greenock Morton fans have launched a fight to secure the future of their 150-year-old football club as it battles a major financial crisis.
Supporters and businesses have already generated almost £50,000 in additional income in a matter of days through a new Fighting Fund, season-ticket sales, player sponsorship and commercial deals.
But the Championship club says it is currently trying to replace £335,000 owed by sponsor Dalrada and has warned that fundraising alone cannot provide a long-term solution.
Morton says it currently has enough resources to continue into the new year and remains debt-free.
But club chiefs have acknowledged that the situation is “serious” and say external investment will ultimately be required to give the historic Greenock club long-term financial security.
Greenock Morton general manager Mark Kelly told STV News that he could not imagine Inverclyde without the club.
“For a place like Inverclyde, I can’t even fathom what it would be like not to have Morton here,” he said.
“It’s been here for over 150 years. I couldn’t even imagine what it would be like not having Morton about.”
The crisis has sparked an immediate response from supporters. The club’s majority shareholder Morton Club Together launched the Morton Fighting Fund on 18 August, describing it as a supporter-led initiative designed to protect the future of the club.
It followed weeks of concern over Morton’s finances and difficulties surrounding money expected from Dalrada.
The club said at the time: “While results on the pitch matter and the team will fight for every point, the long-term survival and sustainability of Greenock Morton matter more.”
More than £4,500 was contributed to the fund within its first 90 minutes. By Friday, the combined response from supporters and businesses had generated almost £50,000 in additional income.
Morton Club Together had separately received £2,400 in one-off donations, while increases in memberships and subscriptions are expected to generate around another £1,400 every month.
Morton revealed last month that Dalrada entered a sponsorship agreement worth £540,000 in June 2025, which was paid in full. A further £240,000 was subsequently committed, with £109,000 received by the club.
Dalrada then agreed to honour second-year options for players recruited using the additional funding. Payments began to slow earlier this year.
Morton said Dalrada had been paying a minimum of £45,000 a month until May. That fell to £22,000 in June and £7,000 in July. No payment was received during August.
Morton said on Friday that it is now seeking to replace £335,000 owed by Dalrada while continuing to pursue payment of the money.
The club said: “While we continue to seek payment of the sums owed, the club cannot plan on that basis alone and must prepare for all scenarios.”
Current projections indicate there is enough liquidity to take Morton through to the new year, helped by the money generated through the Fighting Fund and other measures. That has not stopped supporters worrying about what could happen if a permanent solution cannot be found.
The crisis has also attracted support well beyond Cappielow. Fans of other Scottish clubs have contributed to the fundraising effort, while Line of Duty actor Martin Compston, who was born in Greenock, has backed the campaign.
Morton’s importance to Inverclyde stretches back to 1874. The club has spent most of its history at Cappielow Park, one of Scotland’s oldest football grounds, and has been part of generations of families in Greenock and the surrounding area.
Morton Club Together director David Whitton said financial pressures are not unusual for clubs operating at Morton’s level.
He told STV: “We were slightly behind on season tickets, and there were other costs we didn’t anticipate, and then when you add the sponsor delays, it got to the point that if we waited any longer, it would’ve been too late.”
Morton said: “It is also clear that Greenock Morton requires external investment if we are to create long-term financial security.
“We recognise that this is not a challenge that can be solved through fundraising alone and that a sustainable long-term solution is required.”
“The situation facing Greenock Morton is serious, but it is not hopeless.
“The support shown over the last couple of weeks has already made a meaningful difference and has bought valuable time.
“There remains a significant amount of work ahead, but everyone involved is fully committed to protecting the future of this football club.”