Rather than milk his contract - which expires at the end of the season - Marco has negotiated a mutual contract termination with Morton, allowing him to return to Australia as a free agent. Apparently, several clubs have been hot on Marco's trail following the revelation that there was no space for him in Jim McInally's future Morton team. With the Australian New National Competition due to start in August, Marco may be seeking to sign for one of Australia's elite eight clubs; either that, or he is hoping to join up with a regional powerhouse and start playing sooner rather than later. Either way, the defensive midfielder has recognised that there is no way back for him at Cappielow, and has thus decided to leave.
The 24 year old featured heavily in the 2002/03 Championship season in Division 3, following which, his appearances gradually petered out. His last match for Morton was the 2-2 away draw with Berwick Rangers in December; a match in which he netted a rare goal. After being dropped for the following game, a 3-0 victory over Dumbarton, Marco's credentials as a mere squad player were not in doubt. Thus, it came as little surprise to anyone when Jim McInally told Marco he was free to look for a new club.
Marco is unquestionably less gifted than his brother John, but tries his best to compensate for it by offering a power of effort in every game. His indefatigability won him plaudits amongst segments of the support, but hard graft was ultimately no substitute for raw talent. The occasional good game, plus a geniune love for the club (epitomised by his leading the crowd's singing following last year's Renfrewshire Cup victory over St. Mirren) will see him with few vocal detractors as he heads home. Most will agree that strengthening the squadis ideally the best move, but few will look back on Marco's time at Cappielow with much sense of regret or resentment.
Marco has written several episodes of "Neighbours". His agent, Lou Sticca (pictured below, "enjoying" some "delicious" Australian beer, such as Foster's) invented the hat with corks on.
