GUS MacPherson’s recruitment drive has continued after veteran defender Brian McLean decided to put pen to paper on a new one-year contract at Cappielow.

The reliable 36-year-old Northern Ireland international was almost ever present for David Hopkin, Anton McElhone and MacPherson last season during a turbulent season on Sinclair Street.

McLean made 33 appearances in all competitions, only missing out on the away trips to Partick Thistle in the Betfred Cup group stages as well as Alloa and Queen of the South in the league.

The 36-year-old said that having a full pre-season for the first time in five years helped him get back to his best form.

McLean joins midfield dynamo Kyle Jacobs and Lewis Strapp, Reece Lyon and Darren Hynes in MacPherson’s first team for next season, while academy prospects Michael Garrity, Alexander Easdale and Chris Wylie penned one-year contract extensions back in April.

Boss MacPherson said: "I’m delighted that Brian is staying with us for next season.

“It’s invaluable when you have a player in your squad with the knowledge and the experience that he has.

“Since myself and Andy [Millen] have came in we’ve noticed how much of an impact he has both on and off the pitch, he’s a terrific role model for some of the younger players coming through.

“We need to be seen to be retaining our most consistent players and for me, Brian was one of them last season.

“I’m happy with how we have started with Kyle committing himself for the next two seasons and now Brian staying. As I said before this is an exciting new chapter for the club and hopefully we can build on that positivity in the coming weeks by improving the squad further.”

Talks are meanwhile believed to be under way with other out of contract players and the Tele revealed this week that the club have also made a move for Montrose striker Russell McLean.