Tommy McLean was manager of Motherwell for 10 years

McLean, most recently Under-19 coach with Rangers, was voted Motherwell's greatest-ever manager.

And it is believed that a number of directors see McLean as the ideal man to revive the club's fortunes, with caretaker Scott Leitch as assistant.

Well chairman John Boyle would only say: "We're casting the net far and wide and thinking out the box."

Maurice Malpas walked out after a year in charge with the Scottish Premier League club intent on installing Leitch as assistant ahead of Paul Hegarty.

"We're still coming to terms with Maurice Malpas leaving," Boyle told BBC Sport. "It was unexpected."

No approach has been made to anyone at the moment Motherwell spokesman

An official club statement added: "We are extending our search to replace Maurice Malpas and John Boyle and his fellow directors are agreed that they do not want to rush into any decision.

"They are going to seek out a number of candidates and the search will extend south of the Border and even further afield.

"No approach has been made to anyone at the moment and nobody has been specifically targeted."

Boyle, who rejected a recent bid for the club from businessman Tom Coakley, did confirm that, whoever replaced Malpas, would have Leitch as his number two.

Leitch left Ross County at the end of the season after the Dingwall club were relegated to Division Two.

He took over as caretaker after the departure of Malpas, but Boyle made it clear that the 37-year-old was not in the running to be manager.

McLean is thought to have been an admirer of Leitch in his time as a midfielder with Dunfermline, Hearts, Swindon, Motherwell and County.

And Boyle may see the 60-year-old as the ideal man to groom the younger man for the manager's post itself in the longer-term.

McLean, who also managed Morton, Hearts, Raith Rovers and Dundee United, led Motherwell to Scottish Cup success in 1991 during a 10-year spell at Fir Park that ended three years later.

Former Motherwell striker Owen Coyle, who narrowly missed leading St Johnstone to promotion to the SPL, had emerged as an early favourite for the job.

But Motherwell might be looking for a less obvious candidate.

Former Clyde player-manager Joe Miller has expressed his interest.