In a career that started with Clydebank, Alan had played for a number of clubs - including Rangers and Plymouth Argyle - when he joined Exeter City in 2012 after playing in India. After two years with the Grecians he later returned to play in Scotland before moving into coaching youth players .   

After playing for Yoker Boys Club Alan moved into senior football with his hometown club Clydebank in November 2000 before, following the Bankies' demise, playing for Airdrie United between August 2002 and June 2005. He then appeared for Falkirk in the Scottish Premier League and, having represented Scotland B along the way, moved to Rangers in July 2007. Only ever representing the Ibrox club in a small number of cup ties, Alan gained a taste of the English game on loan at Blackpool and Norwich ahead of signing for Plymouth Argyle in August 2009. 

Signed by Paul Sturrock for £200,000, and with Argyle heading for relegation after six seasons in the Championship, Alan scored just twice in 14 league outings before heading to Hibernian on loan in February 2010. Subsequently released by Argyle, Alan played for Motherwell during the first-half of 2010/11 only to finish the season with Notts County. He then played for East Bengal in India prior to agreeing a short-term deal with Exeter City in March 2012.

Coming into a relegation-threatened team, Alan made his debut against Colchester United on 31 March 2012 and, in seven games, scored twice against Walsall and once against Sheffield United.

With City back in League One, Alan was offered a contract and made 29 league and cup games during 2012/13 when he scored on four occasions. Netting seven times during the following season, including against both Torquay and Plymouth, Alan made his final appearance against Oxford United on 24 January 2014 as he saw out the rest of the campaign on loan at Bristol Rovers.

Released by the Grecians in May 2014, Alan played for St Mirren and - following a break from senior football - Stirling Albion and Queen's Park. Briefly serving as Falkirk’s director of football during 2020, Alan took charge of the newly-resurrected academy at Airdrieonians in July 2022 and - in April 2023 - brought an under-18 team to play a friendly at the Cat and Fiddle.