NOVEMBER 3, 2009: James Grady professed himself to be ‘absolutely delighted’ to be appointed new boss at Cappielow.

He declared that he was determined to show the doubters among the support that they are wrong.

He told the Tele: “The fans will see there is a different side to me.

“I know everyone thinks I’m a jovial wee guy, a wisecracker and a bit of a patter-merchant.

“But you don’t win three First Division titles without having a winning mentality. And I will place similar demands upon the players.

“I’ve got a chance to prove myself and I can promise the fans I will leave no stone unturned in my attempts to make Morton a better team and place.

“Now the players have to prove they are worthy of a new contract. I’m not turning into Mr Nasty, but I have said to them that if they do that, then they are helping me and themselves.

“It’s not a case of whether I like the players or not. It’s whether they can do the business.

“As I’ve said, the 11 who started on Saturday would be chapping at the door to ask why they were not being played if we had a full squad, so we can’t use injuries as an excuse.

“I will not flinch from making hard decisions because I like them as people or they liked me. That will not happen.”

Grady knew only too well that there were a number of Morton fans who would have preferred an experienced, proven manager to take charge.

With that in mind he said: “If the fans want a meeting with me face-to-face, that’s fine.

“I’ll be up front and answer any questions they have, whether it’s about me supposed to have stabbed Davie Irons in the back,  which I didn’t, or whatever.

 “I want to be successful as a manager. I am very ambitious and I know I have to be successful at Morton.”

Grady would spend eight months in charge of the club before leaving Cappielow in May 2010.