Dundee United directors were in tears when Rangers tried to steal Jim McLean
Jim McLean, the manager of Dundee United, with his son Gary and wife Doris, following their rejection of Rangers. DC Thomson image.
When Jim McLean was offered the Ibrox post forty years ago, he acknowledged that he should have left Dundee United and joined Rangers.
After John Greig was fired in the fall of 1983 after leading the Rangers for five years, the board looked to McLean.
The Ibrox team believed they had wooed Alex Ferguson away from Aberdeen, but their target changed their mind at the last minute.
Then someone begged McLean to take over.
Similar to Ferguson, McLean achieved great success at United, taking home the Premier League trophy in May 1983 as well as back-to-back League Cups in 1979 and 1980.
Rangers made their way to United after McLean’s Tangerines advanced to the European Cup quarterfinals at Tannadice with a 4-0 victory over Standard Liege.
When he first mentioned his
However, as he noted in an early biography of his career, the chairman sent his wife flowers and chocolates, and the United directors wept at the notion of him leaving.
“It was undoubtedly the worst weekend of my life,” he remarked.
“Because there was no way, elsewhere, that the offer Rangers made to me could have been better.
In terms of money, it was the greatest offer out of the eleven that I have received, and it was significantly better than anything Dundee United could have made.
“The Rangers directors were willing to give me complete control in all other areas.
“It was an incredible offer, surpassing my expectations in every way.
“I understood Rangers to be a
Provost James Gowans, Jim McLean, William Fitzgerald, and Johnstone Grant in 1983. DC Thomson image.
After taking over as chairman in 1967, Johnstone Grant managed McLean’s hiring as manager in 1971 when he made the quick trip from Dens Park.
When the Rangers called for McLean, Grant was in critical condition.
“The idea of my leaving brought the Tannadice directors to tears,” he remarked.
“The chairman called me nonstop, and at the end of every call, he would break down in tears.
He mentioned how much I had meant to the club and sent my wife flowers and chocolates.
“When I say that it would have shattered his heart, I’m not overstating my personal significance to the club.
In a great deal of
In 1970, Jim McLean with his children, Gary and Colin, and his spouse, Doris. DC Thomson image.
He declared, “As far as football manager Jim McLean was concerned, I made the wrong decision to stay at Dundee United.”
“I ought to have visited the Rangers.”
“No one can ever persuade me to think otherwise.
“I don’t have the slightest question whatsoever about that.
“But my life is influenced by more than just football manager Jim McLean.”
On November 7, 1983, he made it known that he would be staying with the club.
Not everyone was pleased with the choice.
In 1970, Jim McLean with his children, Gary and Colin, and his spouse, Doris. DC Thomson image.
He declared, “As far as football manager Jim McLean was concerned, I made the wrong decision to stay at Dundee United.”
“I ought to have visited the Rangers.”
“No one can ever persuade me to think otherwise.
“I don’t have the slightest question whatsoever about that.
“But my life is influenced by more than just football manager Jim McLean.”
On November 7, 1983, he made it known that he would be staying with the club.
Not everyone was pleased with the choice.
In 1970, Jim McLean with his children, Gary and Colin, and his spouse, Doris. DC Thomson image.
He declared, “As far as football manager Jim McLean was concerned, I made the wrong decision to stay at Dundee United.”
“I ought to have visited the Rangers.”
“No one can ever persuade me to think otherwise.
“I don’t have the slightest question whatsoever about that.
“But my life is influenced by more than just football manager Jim McLean.”
On November 7, 1983, he made it known that he would be staying with the club.
Not everyone was pleased with the choice.
