The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
City have done a Leicester
McLean compares Glebe Park side’s great escape to Foxes’ title charge
Brechin’s Paul McLean believes what his side has achieved this season is as big a footballing fairy-tale as Leicester’s title charge in the English Premiership.
The Angus side finally secured their League One survival on Saturday at the home of local rivals Forfar.
The City players knew that a victory against the Loons would ensure they would not have to face the nail-biting scenario of trying to negotiate the relegation play-offs.
Brechin took the lead on the stroke of half-time thanks to a Darren McCormack headed goal with Forfar then reduced to 10 men on the 52nd minute when Andy Ryan was dismissed after picking up two bookings.
City then looked to have put the game to bed when Jamie Robson made it two with a composed finish inside the For far box.
However, there was to be late drama when City sub Craig Molloy was dismissed in the 92nd minute for a high lunge and then Danny Denholm pulled a goal back for the home side shortly after.
However, Brechin held on to ensure they will be playing in League One again next season and it was no surprise to hear 26-year-old McLean reveal that the theme music to the Great Escape had been blasting around the away dressingroom walls afterwards.
The club’s longest-serving player said: “It is fantastic. I have been at this club now since I was 19 years old. I love the club and I have signed on for another two years.
“I am just delighted that we are going to be playing League One football again next year.
“It means the world to the club. We knew at the start of the season that it was going to be a tough one as we had lost Ray McKinnon and Darren Taylor.
“When the gaffer came in we only had five boys signed up. The boys have dug in but I think when we were beaten 4-1 twice by Albion and Peterhead, everyone thought that was us done but we have rallied and been brilliant since then.
“I think we deserve it, to be honest. I think the last 10 weeks we would have been top of the league if it was on form.
“When we got beaten at Peter head, the changing-room was flat but then we had the game on the Tuesday against Forfar.
“The gaffer said to us that was basically our last chance and we needed to start winning. The boys dug in and we have won every one since apart from Dunfermline and then being unlucky at Cowdenbeath.”
McLean added: “It is one of the best dressing-rooms I have ever been in. We have always stuck together and I am just delighted for the gaffer, for Bailes (assistant boss Lee Bailey) and the committee.
“We want to look forward at this club and next season we will be looking to build a better team. You saw what it meant to the fans today. You saw how many were here today. It is one of the best crowds I have ever seen for a Brechin game and I am delighted for them.
“We have managed to finish seventh which, considering we were 10 points adrift at the bottom of the league 10 weeks ago, it is unbelievable we have managed to get it back.
“What Leicester have done in the Premier League has been fantastic and for us in our division it has been some story as well.
“It is one of the best stories you will see. I don’ t think there has been an escape like that. The lads are playing the Great Escape music in the dressing-room and I am just delighted for everybody at the club. It is just brilliant.”
FORFAR ATHLETIC 1 BRECHIN CITY 2