Career
McPhee was with Celtic as a youth but failed to make a senior appearance and moved to Forfar, where he spent nine years. McPhee moved to Dundee United in his mid-twenties but managed only a dozen league appearances during his time at Tannadice and dropped down a division to join Airdrieonians partway through the 1988-1989 season. McPhee featured in over eighty league matches for the Diamonds before rejoining Forfar in 1991.
McPhee became player/manager in 1996, taking over from Tommy Campbell.
In November 2000, with the club lying bottom, McPhee ended his long association with the Loons by "mutual consent".