Dundee United warn Hearts Levein is staying put

DUNDEE UNITED today insisted Craig Levein is staying put at Tannadice, despite reports linking him with a sensational switch back to Hearts.

DUNDEE UNITED chief executive Stephen Thompson today insisted Craig Levein is happy at Tannadice, despite reports linking him with a sensational switch back to Hearts.

Thompson, son of United chairman Eddie, was reacting to renewed speculation today that Hearts have made Levein their No.1 target to fill the vacant manager's position.

The Tynecastle club looked set to name Mark McGhee as their new boss, only for the Motherwell manager to make a last-minute U-turn as prepared to board a flight to Lithuania where he was due for talks with Hearts' majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov. McGhee subsequently agreed a new, improved deal to stay with Motherwell yesterday, leaving the Gorgie club to focus their attentions elsewhere.

Levein is now reported to be at the top of Romanov's wanted list, although no official contact has been made between Hearts and United. Indeed, the former defender is also believed to be in the dark over any proposed bid to take him back to Edinburgh.

The 43-year-old was Hearts manager from December 2000 to October 2004, leaving just before Romanov took control of the club. Levein would be a popular choice with the club's backroom staff, players and supporters. However, Thompson is confident his manager will remain at the helm of the Tannadice outfit for the foreseeable future. He stressed: "Craig Levein is very happy at Tannadice. We are already planning with him for the coming season and further into the future."

Tannadice director Derek Robertson insisted that the Tangerines' manager had given club chairman Eddie Thompson and the other members of his board assurances that he's going nowhere: "It's nothing more than speculation. Craig Levein has already given the board assurances on several occasions that he will remain at Tannadice at least until the end of his current contract.

"He still has a year left to run on that. When your manager is doing well it is inevitable that he will be linked with other clubs."

Meanwhile, Hearts are believed to have turned down a bid of around £500,000 from Burnley for Andrew Driver. The 20-year-old was Hearts' Young Player of the Year last season and his performances have caught the eye of Clarets boss Owen Coyle. However, the former St Johnstone boss will have to up his offer if he is to convince the Jambos to part with the Englishman.

Driver penned a long-term contract just over a year ago which ties him to Hearts until the summer of 2011.