Lewis Strapp reveals how Morton spell turned sour as Finnish leap of faith came after hurtful training ground lockout

For a couple of years at Morton he felt needed.

Now, Lewis Strapp feels WANTED. And that’s why the young Scot has taken the plunge by kickstarting his career in Finland. After 12 years at Cappielow – he was one the club academy’s first-ever inductees – he finished up at Greenock this summer. When he walked out the door for the last time, there was no sadness or regret. Just pride, a little bit of anger and a desire to start a new adventure abroad. Strapp believes he deserved better from the club where he had spent his whole life.

Former gaffer Dougie Imrie and others at Morton will no doubt have their own side of the story. But the 24-year-old left-back is beginning a new chapter at Finnish side SJK under Scots coach Stevie Grieve. He could have stayed in the SPFL, with Championship sides after him. But a new life in Scandinavia, a new style of play – and the prospect of European football – swayed his decision. And Strapp is adamant he’s made the right choice.

As he reflected on how it all ended at Morton, the defender told Record Sport : “I’m from Dunoon, across the water, so I liked to think of myself as a local boy. But I walked out of Cappielow a year ago and had my emotional moment then. This time? It was more anger and relief. I know I did my job at that club and did it well.

“Last year, after coming back into the team, we went from bottom of the league to fourth place. On the last day, every player had a meeting with Dougie who hadn’t spoken to me much at the end of the season. He could only offer me reduced terms and I didn’t even hang around to find out how much. That was enough for me, it was time to move on.

“A year previously, I got a serious injury. My contract ran out while I was injured and the gaffer