Tommy McLean - A Realistic Candidate For Ton Job?

In Saturday's Greenock Telegraph Roger Graham mentioned Tommy McLean as a possible candidate for the Morton job. The suggestion seemed to come straight out of left field so I am inclined to think that Graham has had a tip off that McLean is in for the job.

This suggestion also seems to be backed by McBookie's decision to stop taking bets on on who will be the next Ton manager. McBookie boss Paul Petrie told me that he decided to close the book because someone asked for a price for Tommy McLean, something he found strange in itself, and after quoting 6/1 they received a run of money on him.

If he does get the job it would see his career come full circle as it was here that he started out as a manager. McLean replaced Alex Miller in 1983 and won the First Division in his only season with the club (pictured, above left: celebrating the title win in the team bath).

He wasn't around to oversee his teams return to the Premier League as he was tempted by the offer to manage Motherwell. McLean spent 10 years at Fir Park in which time he won the Scottish Cup in 1991. After Motherwell he also managed Hearts, Raith Rovers and Dundee United and worked as a youth coach with Rangers - where he'd spent eleven years as a player - and Dundee United.

He is currently employed as a player observer and scout by the SFA but was rumoured to be set to follow Steven Pressley out of Hampden as part of changes to the back room team. However, George Burley has stated that this is not the case, he said: "Tommy is not involved in the coaching at all; Tommy sits up in the stand. Since I've been a manager, I've always liked somebody sitting up in the stand, assessing what we're playing, what they're playing and the tactics. And that's Tommy's role."

It will be interesting to see if McLean emerges as a realistic candidate in the days and weeks ahead.


Scotsman - Manager Denies Exit Of Pressley Was Caused By Player Revolt (30.09.2009)