MORTON fans are to hold a crunch vote on possible changes to this summer's supporter takeover which could see Cappielow handed over in the deal - with a £2m debt attached.

Morton Club Together, the investment group which is set to take control later this year, says it has been negotiating with club owners Golden Casket - Ton chairman Crawford Rae and his family's firm - on the future ownership of the stadium.

Under the in-principle agreement struck last July, MCT were to become the new owners of Morton, but Cappielow - and the car park across the road from it - would stay with the Raes.

They were to rent it back to Morton for a peppercorn fee, with the £2m Ton debt run up under the Rae regime being completely written off.

Some supporters criticised the terms, signing an online petition aimed at keeping Cappielow in the club's hands.

Officials from MCT say they were aware of 'significant unease' and have been exploring alternatives.

Now they are to put two options to fans - the current deal as it stands, or a plan B which would see the newly-community-owned club keeping the stadium, and the £2m debt pile remaining on the books.

The Rae family firm would also keep control of the car park, leasing it out to Morton.

A spokesperson for MCT said: "We have reached a stage where there are two options on the table as things stand.

"We feel it is crucially important at this stage in the negotiation that we liaise with the full MCT membership on the options to help inform where we go from here."

The group has sent a survey to its 700 paying members but has also urged other supporters to take part and give their views as the clock ticks down to the date of the historic changeover.

They said: "MCT has always been one member, one vote, and in this decision, which is fundamentally crucial to the future of Greenock Morton, that remains the case.

"Every one of us has a responsibility to consider the implications of each option and make an informed decision on the next steps."

Under the original deal, officials from the supporter investment body say it 'may be possible' to insert a clause that would give them first option to buy Cappielow, should Golden Casket ever decide to sell the stadium.

They have told supporters that the argument for this arrangement from Golden Casket is that if Morton hit financial difficulties in the future, the stadium would be 'safe from creditors or administrators'.

With the new option, Golden Casket would hold a security charge over the ground based on the debt.

Bosses at MCT say there would be no interest paid on the debt and 'no expectation that the debt be repaid'.

They added: "The agreement is that the security would only be called in (repossession of the ownership of Cappielow by Golden Casket) if the club is sold, the ground is sold, or the club is facing liquidation.

"This would again protect the stadium from creditors or from administration.

"In the event of financial difficulties, Golden Casket would be the 'preferred creditor' to the stadium and could secure it for the club’s future."

A spokesman for Morton Club Together says they understand the concerns of fans surrounding the stadium and have worked 'extremely hard to try and progress discussions and negotiate the best deal possible with Golden Casket'.

He added: "Options 1 and 2 have been presented to MCT, by Golden Casket, as a way to protect Cappielow should community ownership fail.

"These options may be a cause for much speculation however based on the presentation of these options we have no reason to dismiss the sincerity of this intent.

"With both options, steps can be taken to seek to ensure that such an agreement would be binding on the Golden Casket successors in the event of that company being sold or experiencing administration themselves.

"Option 1 presently does not have a clear pathway to provide for future ownership of Cappielow by MCT and its members, while option 2 does not presently have a clear pathway to a debt free Morton, even although the debt will essentially be a paper debt only.

"We are fully aware of the importance of this matter and need to seek the opinions of our membership as to which route we should pursue.

"It has taken us significant effort to get to where we are now in the negotiations.

"We do not wish to continue negotiations unless and until we receive a mandate from our members on their preferred course of action."

The fan investment group says it will now gather survey responses, consider them and hold a final consultation on the deal and it has called on as many fans as possible to take part before the deadline of 5pm this Friday.

The survey is online at https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/MCTFEB/