MORTON bosses say they are taking steps to improve access to Cappielow ahead of next week's big televised Scottish Cup tie against Motherwell.

Fans experienced lengthy delays in being admitted to the ground just over a fortnight ago as Ton clashed with Partick Thistle.

There were complaints afterwards that supporters missed up to 20 minutes of the match, with large queues building up outside the four turnstiles on Sinclair Street to the terracing. 

Now club chiefs have announced plans that will see old gates brought back into use in the hope of easing congestion. Handheld scanners will also be brought in to help speed up the queueing process.

Morton said: "We are also working with the contractor who installed the new turnstiles to make them slightly more efficient in terms of cutting down the time from one person going through to when the next person can scan their ticket.

"This work is already ongoing and will look to cut down around five seconds of the wait to scan after somebody has gone through."

Meanwhile club officials are in talks with the BBC about camera gantries, in a bid to prevent large sections of the Cowshed from being blocked or having a restricted view at next week's tie.

A club spokesperson added: "We have been in dialogue with the BBC around the broadcasting arrangements.

"We have managed to move one of the 18-yard line cameras completely out of the front row of the Cowshed to an alternative position where it will not impede the view of the supporters.

"The BBC have also worked with us on reviewing the size of the main gantry in the Cowshed, which has seen an agreement on the width of the structure being halved.

"The gantry had been 16ft wide, for this upcoming match it will only be 8ft wide, which will not restrict the view as much as previously.

"We understand it will still affect the view of some supporters but given the requirements we have to meet it is the best possible solution that can be put in place at this time."