sentences:  At Clydebank, he was only a part-time professional but was spotted by Southampton's scout (and former player) Campbell Forsyth.O'Brien was also attracting interest from Coventry City and Nottingham Forest so the Saints' manager Ted Bates travelled to Glasgow himself to watch him (in a 1–1 draw with East Fife).Bates liked what he saw and signed O'Brien that same evening for £22,500, a then record for the Scottish Second Division.