MORTON chairman Douglas Rae will hold showdown talks with Kenny Shiels to determine if he will remain as manager next season.

The Northern Irishman replaced Allan Moore in December but the Ton have continued to struggle and their relegation from the Championship will be confirmed tonight if they fail to win at home against Dumbarton.

Shiels overhauled his squad in the weeks after his appointment but high-profile arrivals like Garry O'Connor and Rowan Vine have failed to pay off and Rae will look for answers as he gears up for life in League One.

He told SportTimes: "If Kenny is going to be here next year, he is going to have to get himself sharpened up.

"He has surprised me because he was so good at the interview, he talked the most sense of anyone and he knows how to put it over.

"But this situation has emerged and he has lost his positivity. He is not alert enough to be negative.

"It is as if he has gone three rounds with Ricky Burns. He has aged 10 years since he came here."

Mr Rae added: "That will go away over the summer.

"But he has got to get himself sorted out and be positive with the guys.

"I far prefer his other personality and attitude. I need to talk with him, I want to know what his attitude will be.

"It is important how he feels about things.

"He stood out at the interview and I have been disappointed that he has lost the positivity."