MORTON hope success is on the menu after teaming up with a new hospitality partner in a major sponsorship boost.
The Ton announced the new deal with international firm HungrySquirrel.com, with the club looking to expand on the matchday hospitality experience at Cappielow, which has been a major success in recent years.
The sponsorship comes on the back of the six-figure deal with Dalrada Technology in August.
HungrySquirrel.com CEO Sandy DiCicco - a restaurateur with over 30 years experience - visited Cappielow with her husband, Dalrada founder and Morton backer Brian Bonar, in August and wanted to form a partnership with the Ton.
Although the figures of the deal won’t be announced, speaking to the Tele today, director Gordon Ritchie says securing the deal demonstrates the progress the club are continuing to make and gives Ton a further financial boost ahead of new year.
He said: "It is another significant sponsorship deal for the club, which is necessary for us to continue to progress both on and off the pitch.
"We can’t achieve what we hope to achieve without the backing of local businesses and this, although not a local one, is another company that have recognised what we have been trying to do and wants to be part of it.
"I think it demonstrates that the club is making progress, people can see the progress that we are making on the park.
"We can begin to see the progress we are making off the park as well, for community ownership for a club like Morton to be successful.
"We have to have partnerships with local businesses, and international companies who support the same basic principles that we have, and that is why we are so delighted to be able to announce the partnership with HungrySquirrel.com.
"They share our ethical approach to running a business, they share our community support, and are very much on board with what we are trying to do as a club going forward.
"There is a connection to Dalrada Technology. The CEO of HungrySquirrel.com is married to the CEO of Dalrada Technology, and they were both in town earlier this year to announce the Dalrada support.
"They liked what they saw, they liked what we were doing, and they wanted to come aboard, and the hospitality lounge was a perfect opportunity for them as it merges very well with their core business.
"They do specialist sauces, for various dishes, and they are very keen on a healthier lifestyle, and again an association with a professional sports club, it works for their brand and obviously for us.
"It works with the hospitality lounge, and I think everybody is a winner in a deal like this."
The club are looking at more commercial opportunities using a piece of land purchased next to Cappielow, with a bar or restaurant possible options.
Ritchie said it's vital Morton continue to generate revenue and sponsorship opportunities off the pitch to support manager Dougie Imrie.
He said: "As a club we need to generate more revenue going forward.
"We have to support Dougie on the pitch as much as we can, and we have to find ways of generating revenue.
"We are looking at the wasteland just now to see what that could be used for to generate income on an ongoing basis, but with the support of businesses like Dalrada and HungrySquirrel.com they recognise what we are doing.
"They realise the club is going in the right direction on and off the pitch, and they want to be associated with a community business that is showing signs of success and positivity, and showing we can achieve what we all want to.
"The great thing about the club in the last few months is that everybody is pulling in the same direction, the sponsors are supporting us, the board are all pulling in the same direction, supported by the board of Morton Club Together, who again all want the same thing.
"Dougie and the coaching staff are all 100 per cent behind what we are trying to do, and the players are buying into it as well, and you are seeing the results of that on the park as well as off it."
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