Happy Ray McKinnon day! Here’s the story of a modern day Greenock Morton legend.

McKinnon replaced Jim Duffy in May of 2018, talking up the club’s potential to the press and how he believed he was the man to bring Premiership football back to Greenock.

First order of business? Release fans favourite Andy Murdoch for literally no reason. Prick.

Morton were chucked out both the League & Challenge Cup, but made some solid signings and started the league season well. 3 unbeaten, and a dominant home win over eventual champions Ross County.

The Ton looked like genuine title contenders. What could go wrong?

McKinnon and his (bald) assistant Darren Taylor showed up for team photo day, and talked with Chairman Crawford Rae about their plans for the game the next day.

20 minutes later without a word to players, staff or Crawford, they left for Falkirk and never returned.

Rumours began swirling that afternoon that McKinnon might actually be Falkirk’s new boss. Few Morton (or Falkirk) fans believed it. Some tinpot things have happened to the Ton over the years, but this would be right up there.

Could McKinnon really be that much of a fanny?

Oh you better believe it. ‘Super’ Ray was announced that afternoon to the utter disbelief of those at Cappielow and everyone else in Scottish Football.

Morton had published their squad photos with him in it just hours earlier.

Not only had Morton lost their manager to the worst team in the league, they were without one for their game the following day.

Meanwhile, Falkirk fans celebrated as though they’d lured Guardiola from Man City.

John Sutton stepped in, then sadly so did Jonatan Johansson.

Fortunately though, Falkirk remained utter, utter garbage. They just kept losing, and losing and losing. The turnaround McKinnon promised just wasn’t happening.

October came, and it was time for Ray’s return to Greenock.

The town was abuzz all week. This would be an old fashioned hounding, and by gar it’d been a while.

McKinnon had hired private security and took an “alternative route” to route to Cappielow to avoid any er...welcome. At least the local paper was keeping a level head.

The day arrived and the atmosphere at Cappielow was absolutely toxic. Adolf Hitler could’ve been paraded as a new signing to a warmer reception.

A nervy game ended in a 1-0 win for the good guys, ex-Falkirk man Bob McHugh sealing it. Ray and his bodyguards were sent packing.

Both teams endured pretty torid seasons from then on. Jonatan Johansson had been a disaster, but the Ton kept their head above relegation water, just.

Falkirk were in deep trouble, and were even put out of the Scottish Cup by Stenny. Still spending money, still complete guff.

It was the business end of the season, both Morton & Falkirk could still go down - a meeting at their three sided bus shelter looked to be the decider.

We won. The team that McKinnon had left behind had just sent him and Falkirk on their way to League 1.

Pure poetry.

The last day was interesting. Morton were safe, but once again without a manager as JJ walked out hours before the game over a Charlie Telfer contract dispute.

We beat Dundee United 1-0 and nobody even noticed, home and away fans were glued to phones waiting on Falkirk’s score.

Full time. The tannoy man confirms Falkirk’s relegation and actually takes my request to play Down Down by Status Quo at the final whistle.

Cappielow was like Morton had just won the league.

Smalltime? Absolutely.

The most fun I’ve ever had a football game? Also yes.

Morton fans hit the town to celebrate into the night. Meanwhile, in Falkirk...

Most of the Falkirk fans’ anger was directed at the board for being a bunch of charlatans, but few were convinced by McKinnon either.

Thankfully, they kept him on though, as he told the media he could take Falkirk back to where they belong, the Premiership.

Over the summer McKinnon would sign up a host of ex-Morton players, including Michael Tidser - the Ton’s star man. The Falkirk fans once again rubbed it in.

After just 9 appearances for The Navy Blues, Tidser now finds himself playing for Kelty Hearts.

Could Ray and his collection of Morton alumni prove the doubters wrong and return Falkirk to the big time at the first chance?

Lmao no.

Morton & Falkirk’s legal battle over the fiasco finally came to and end last year, with the Bairns heavily fined for tapping McKinnon up and lying.

Oddly, Ray’s “other side of the story” is yet to come up. I have a wee feeling it might not actually exist.

Ray now finds himself at Queens Park with a seemingly impossible chance of failing to get promoted.

I just know that if there’s one man that can make an arse of it though, it’s ‘Super’ Ray McKinnon.