DEREK McInnes is set to throw a surprise career lifeline to one-time Chelsea player Jody Morris.
The St Johnstone manager has welcomed the 29-year-old to McDiarmid Park and wants to sign him up for the First Division title run-in. Saints are third in the league, ten points behind leaders Hamilton and six adrift of second-placed Dundee.
McInn
es is a huge admirer of midfielder Morris from their time together at Millwall and insists his bad-boy tag is wide of the mark. "Jody has been at a loose end after expecting to be offered a contract at Charlton, where he underwent a full pre-season," said the manager.
"He is a free agent and someone I know well from our time at Millwall. He was happy to come up and he really enjoyed his first training session with the lads. We have ten league games left and, when fully fit, Jody is a quality footballer.
"He played more than 100 times for Chelsea when guys like Emmanuel Petit, Didier Deschamps and Roberto de Matteo were around Stamford Bridge. He has an FA cup winners medal and a European medal. Jody will bring real assets to the football team.
"I know Jody can do a job for us. I kept in touch with him as he came back from injury and he is a naturally fit guy.
"Maybe he has had some problems in the past but I take people as I find them and Jody is a great lad. First and foremost he is a fine footballer and secondly I think he is a good person."
Former England Under-21 international Morris, who went on to Leeds United, played under Ruud Gullit, Gianluca Vialli and Claudio Ranieri at Chelsea, winning an FA Cup medal in the 2002 old Wembley swansong, when a De Matteo strike saw off Aston Villa.
McInnes has also been linked with a move for Inverness Caledonian Thistle veteran Barry Wilson but said: "I had a chat with Craig Brewster last week but that's as far as it went."
In the Second Division, meanwhile, Cowdenbeath manager Brian Welsh must serve a massive ten-match touchline ban after he decided not to appeal against his latest suspension.
The Central Park manager was reported by referee John McDermott for disorderly conduct during the recent 3-2 defeat to Alloa Athletic and had until yesterday to contest a six-game suspension for his third misdemeanour since moving into management last season.
However, the former Hibs and Dundee United defender has accepted the SFA decision, which will kick in this weekend for the Fife derby with Raith Rovers.
Welsh, who saw his side's league clash with Queen's Park postponed due to high winds last night, served the last game of his previous four-match ban during Saturday's 4-0 home defeat to Peterhead.
Second Division leaders Ross County have signed goalkeeper Alan Creer, who was released recently by Alloa. Manager Derek Adams has fixed up Creer until the end of the season and said: "His ability and his size, he is 6ft 4in, will ensure competition for the number one shirt."
Alloa manager Allan Maitland has continued to prepare for next season by signing four of his first-team squad on extended contracts. Dougie Wilson, Chris Townsley, John Grant and Andy Ferguson have been secured on extended deals and are now signed until summer 2009.
In the Third Division, Forfar have signed Cupar Angus striker Alan Cruickshank, who has been on trial at the club. Cruickshank has been signed on an amateur form until the end of the season.
The full article contains 611 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
