Support grows for statue of Jim Mclean at Dundee Utd

● Manager who won top honours ‘needs recognition’

Support is growing for a statue of Jim Mclean, Dundee United’s longest-serving and most successful manager.

Mclean, who has just turned 80 and is in poor health, managed the club between 1971 and 1993 and won three major honours.

This included the club’s only Scottish Football League title in 1982/83 and consecutive Scottish League Cup wins in 1979 and 1980.

His team also reached the semi-final of the 1984 European Cup and the Uefa Cup final in 1987.

Broadcaster and Dundee United fan Jim Spence said he believes Mclean to be one of the greatest managers in Scottish football history.

“I can think of a million reasons to do it but very few reasons not to,” he said.

“He is up there with Jock Stein and Sir Alex Ferguson in what he achieved and I think he absolutely deserves the recognition.

“The success he brought to the club will never ever be matched.”

Mclean’s era saw United sweep aside some of the world’s best sides, includ- ing AS Monaco, PSV Eindhoven and Werder Bremen. The team also famously beat Barcelona home and away in 1986/87, to take the Tannadice side’s record against the Catalans to four out of four after two previous victories in 1966/1967.

Dundee United have yet to say whether they will officially support the idea, but the club’s chairman, Stephen Thompson, said Mclean’s impact is felt all over the city.

He said: “I don’t think you can overstate the impact of Jim Mclean not just on Dundee United but the city of Dundee as a whole.

“His Dundee United teams put the city on the map all over Europe and beyond and brought great pride, enjoyment and fantastic occasions to Dundee.”

Mike Barilie, a board member of the The Dundee United Supporters Society, the ARABTRUST, said that things were moving in the right direction.

He said: “There’s not as much pressure on the club to come up with the cash now with various funding options and the rise of crowdfunding.

“The fact that Mclean played for Dundee FC should also bring Dee fans on board. He did a lot for the city and really put us on the map.

“We’re pushing for a steering group to be established which will help once we have the club officially on board.”