McParland led Thistle to promotion to the top division in his first season as manager,[7] and the following year guided them to arguably their greatest triumph, a 4–1 win in the 1971 Scottish League Cup Final against Celtic.
[7] In June 1974 McParland left Partick Thistle to become head coach at lower league Queens Park.
[7] McParland joined Celtic for the start of season 1976-77 as assistant manager, working under Jock Stein.
[7][10] McParland took charge of the 'tracksuit' aspects of coaching at Celtic whilst Stein watched from the touchline, still not fully recovered from the serious car smash he was involved in the year before.
[15] In October 2001 McParland was appointed Director of Football at Dumbarton[16] but was released from his role in May 2002 amidst rumours that he did not get on with manager Tom Carson.