HAVING just passed the third anniversary of his arrival at Dundee United, Craig Levein is now approaching the end of his first week being cast as Scotland's most wanted man.
He currently craves the anonymity of an old outlaw on the run. But tomorrow's televised visit of Celtic ensures that Levein will remain in the spotlight. Stephen Thompson, his chairman, could witness history being made and yet still be left feeling a
nxious. Should Levein's side add to Tony Mowbray's problems with a notable victory -United have not beaten Celtic in over a decade – then Levein's stock will simply rise higher, the speculation cranked up further. Gordon Smith will be left with little option but to begin contemplating ways to break bread with someone already regarded by many as the outstanding candidate to succeed George Burley as Scotland manager.
Earlier this week Levein instructed local reporters that they were wasting their time if they wanted him to comment on either the Scotland vacancy or his relationship with the chief executive of the Scottish Football Association. Yesterday he underlined this policy with a reply almost as short as the odds quoting him as favourite to replace Burley. "It's not impossible to ignore, but it's impossible to get me to talk about it," he said, when asked about the speculation.
With a spate of managers having this week withdrawn their names from contention, the beleaguered SFA may choose to interpret Levein's comment as a 'come and get me' invitation. Some, few of whom are United followers, believe he has been at Tannadice long enough. They regard him as having achieved what he set out to do at United when hired by the late Eddie Thompson in October 2006. Seven of the side which started Levein's first match – a 2-1 win over Rangers – have since moved on, and the process has led to an improvement in fortunes.
Levein has re-established respectability and overhauled the youth system. This summer saw new senior and junior academy managers appointed. A recent derby match with Dundee raised over £30,000 for each team's youth development funds. But Levein, who signed a three year extension to his contract last December, is still not satisfied. He believes he has further work to do at Tannadice. Rather than be flattered by talk of him being the man to restore Scotland's flagging fortunes, he is irked by the current pessimism percolating within the game.
"The negativity surrounding Scottish football is based on only three things – Celtic, Rangers and Scotland," he pointed out yesterday. "Nobody cares about what is happening at teams like Dundee United and Motherwell. They would not be able to tell you if these teams are playing well or if they are playing badly. All they know is that in Europe the Old Firm teams are not doing as well as they have done in the past, and Scotland are dropping down the rankings. That's what the people think of when they think about Scottish football.
"I think there is hope – it might be a long way away, but there's hope," he continued. "We are looking at developing 9,10,11 year-olds. But there are other positives. Billy Stark's Under-21 Scotland team are doing reasonably well."
Levein was present when Celtic shipped three goals in the second half against Falkirk just under a fortnight ago. But, just as he won't comment on his own future, he would not be drawn on the problems currently afflicting the middle of the Celtic – and Scotland – defence, with Stephen McManus and Gary Caldwell having endured a torrid time recently.
"It's not my place," said Levein, himself a former centre-half. "If my players were having difficulties I would be quite happy to talk about the process involved in restoring their confidence. But that's for Tony to try and solve if he thinks he has a problem. For me, the biggest concern is whether we can take our chances when they come."
But Levein was prepared to talk about one Celtic centre-half, since he is solemnly conscious of the relevance. John Kennedy was finally forced to admit defeat in his battle with knee injury last week. It was a bullet of news which stopped Levein in his tracks. His own playing career came to a premature end, though Levein is grateful he reached 30 before making his last appearance for Hearts against Dunfermline. Kennedy is just 26.
"At 29, you think you are going to play on for another five or six years," reflected Levein. "You are not thinking about what your next career path is going to be."
The end for Levein came after an operation to repair both his medial and cruciate ligaments. He had a feeling something was not right when he attempted to return.
"I felt this lag, or opening in the joint, whenever I tried to strike through the ball," he recalled. "I worked really hard to build up all the muscles around the knee. But I couldn't shake it off. And the option was to go for another operation. But that would have been the sixth. This time I knew it just wasn't right."
As one door shut, another opened. Levein might not be the much-fancied manager he is today had he not been struck down by something then regarded as cruel fate. "It gave me a new direction," he said.
"I would encourage John not to dismiss coaching. I didn't realise it was for me until someone said to me: 'go and have a shot'. Suddenly you are given new focus."
And now here Levein is, the man identified by many as Scotland's saviour. The stricken Kennedy could have no better source of inspiration.
