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Former Rangers defender Brian McLean spent four seasons at Fir Park, making 61 appearances in a spell with 'Well severely restricted by injury
After escaping relegation in 2003 thanks to Falkirk's failure to have an SPL compliant stadium, one of the first things Terry Butcher set about doing to his team was improving the defence.
In the following couple of seasons the club's success stemmed from the much-improved defensive unit Butcher put in place. By the beginning of the 2005’06 campaign Terry had to do it all again as once again his side began to leak goals at an alarming rate.
With the likes of Marshall, Hammell, Corrigan and Leitch on the treatment table for lengthy spells and the solid and effective David Partridge having moved on, Butcher had to move quickly to rebuild his defence. To help resolve the problems, the then Motherwell manager signed utility man Brian McLean from Rangers on loan to the end of the season.
McLean had turned out in a bounce game against ‘Well at Murray Park only a few weeks earlier where he caught the attention of the 'Well boss. With opportunities in the Ibrox first team at a premium, McLean didn’t have to be asked twice when the opportunity arose to join Motherwell.
Brian initially was used in a right midfield role and then at right back where he filled in for the injured Corrigan, McBride and fellow loanee Alan McCormack. Despite making an instant impact where he helped set up Willie Kinniburgh’s winning goal on his debut at Inverness, things didn’t quite click into place.
Suddenly, after lining up alongside Stephen Craigan in the heart of the Motherwell defence we began to see more of what Terry Butcher had seen in McLean.
Brian soon established a solid partnership in the middle of the defence. With Steven Hammell and Martyn Corrigan returning to full fitness and Graeme Smith impressing in goals, Butcher once more had a defence capable of handling most SPL strike-forces.
While still very raw McLean continued to improve throughout the season and established himself ahead of Willie Kinniburgh in the pecking order for a place.
As well as his defensive abilities McLean’s aerial prowess saw him pose a threat at the other end of the park and he found the net no less than 3 times during the 05'06 season firstly against Hearts, then at Pittodrie against Aberdeen and a memorable injury time winner against Livingston in April 2006.
Brian’s move to Motherwell also helped him break into the Northern Ireland international squad - albeit briefly.
Despite being Scottish by birth, Brian elected to play for his grandfather’s nation and he made his debut as a substitute, ironically coming on to replace Dossers team-mate Stephen Craigan, in a 1-0 win over Estonia in Belfast.
Unfortunately that proved to be sum of Brian's international career as it soon became apparent in April 2006 that the Northern Irish Football Association hadn't followed FIFA's procedures properly and as a result they deemed Brian ineligible to play for Northern Ireland.
Better news for the player however was soon around the corner when after months of negotiation Motherwell and Rangers were finally able to thrash out a deal to make Brian's move to Fir Park permanent with the player signing a 3 year deal.
After the delight of making his move permanent, disappointment sadly wasn't far away. On the eve of the 2006'07 campaign when a training ground accident with team-mate Bobby Donnelly saw the defender ruled out for the opening few weeks of the season.
On his return Brian helped 'Well to their first league win and first shut-out of the season against Falkirk at Westfield but sadly just a couple of games later at home to Hearts, the defender suffered medial ligament and cartilage damage ruling him out for just about the whole of the season.
McLean returned to Motherwell squad for the penultimate game of the season against St Mirren and though perhaps not fully ready was required to go on as a second half substitute in attempt to prevent the roof from caving in on Motherwell's season.
With our SPL place retained by the skin of our teeth, he returned to the bench for the final game of the campaign the following weekend at Tannadice.
By the time the 2007'08 season started Motherwell were under the command of Mark McGhee and Brian initially found it difficult to break into the side.
Though a regular in the first team squad by the turn of the year, McLean's only appearance had been in the CIS League Cup against Raith Rovers, where in fact Brian scored in a 3-1 win. His first league outing came as a substitute as late in the season as January, against St Mirren.
An injury to club captain Paul Quinn, suddenly saw Brian come back into the manager's plans and he played in the last eight league matches of the season as Motherwell sealed wins against Celtic, Aberdeen and Hibs and draws against Dundee Utd and Rangers to make it into the UEFA Cup.
Sadly Brian was the victim of a crude challenge in a pre-season game against CFR Cluj in July and suffered a cruciate ligament injury which kept him out for over six months.
After just a single reserve game Brian was thrust straight back into the first-team and helped 'Well to a 2-1 victory over Inverness in late February.
Thereafter McLean was a regular in the side as 'Well just missed out on a top six place. The defender brought the curtain down on his season by netting two goals in the final three matches of the campaign.
Offered a one year contract at the close of the season by Mark McGhee, Brian chose instead to take up the offer of a two year deal with Falkirk ending a four year association with the Steelmen.
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D.O.B:
28/02/1985
Born:
Rutherglen
Height:
6' 2'
Weight:
12st 4Ibs
Signed From:
Rangers (undisclosed)
Sold To:
Falkirk
Position:
Defender
International Caps:
 1
International Goals:
0
2009/10 Squad No:
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