Morton have announced that former striker Warren Hawke has been appointed as the club’s chief executive.

Chairman Douglas Rae released a statement on the club website yesterday confirming that the 46-year-old, who has been a director at Cappielow since 2015, would make the step up to oversee the club’s day-to-day operations.

He was already heavily involved in Morton’s youth academy and community trust over the last few years, and will now take over the role vacated by Gillian Donaldson last summer.

Rae said: “It is with enormous pleasure that I announce that our popular former striker and current board member Warren Hawke has been appointed chief executive of the football club.

“I brought Warren to Cappielow from Berwick Rangers in 1995 and again in 2001 from Queen of the South as I saw something special in him as a player.

“He served the club with distinction, scoring 53 goals in 247 appearances, and returned for a third time as consultant for club development in January 2012. Since then, his efforts in establishing our youth academy and community trust have been very impressive.

“We co-opted Warren onto our board of directors in the summer of 2015 and after Gillian Donaldson resigned, we felt that the next logical progression would be to appoint him to the vacant chief executive position, a role in which he will oversee day-to-day operations at the club.

“Warren is an individual whom I have always held in high regard on the pitch. I am expecting great things from him in his new post and wish him the very best of luck.”

Hawke has expressed his delight at taking on the role, saying: “I was appointed chief executive at our last board meeting, with the new role taking effect as of today, and I was honoured to accept the position.

“I look forward to working to continue to bring the club forward.”