Gorgie legend Robbo is the man for job, says Levein

PAUL KIDDIE

OUTGOING Hearts boss Craig Levein today backed Gorgie legend John Robertson for the Tynecastle hot seat.

The Inverness Caley Thistle boss, who smashed a record 310 goals in 720 appearances for the club, is the overwhelming favourite with the fans to take over the Tynecastle hot seat.

And Levein admitted he could think of no-one better to continue the work he has started in establishing the Jambos as the third force in Scottish football.

"Robbo is the only one for me," he said. "There may be other candidates and while it is not my place to tell the club who they should be appointing, he is the best choice in my mind. I had some tough times trying to win over certain sections of the Hearts support who didn’t take to me for one reason or another but this is a time to unite and pull together.

"John has proved his credentials at Inverness and his coaching is of a high standard. Following all this upheaval it would be great if everyone pulled together - that’s what’s needed.

"Looking at the situation logically, John would be the person to come in."

Robertson, who played his last game for Hearts at Tynecastle against Dunfermline in May 1998, played down the speculation.

He said: "That is a tremendous compliment coming from Craig Levein as he is one of Scotland’s best young managers.

"But my job is here at Inverness Caley Thistle until someone comes and tells me different.

Levein, meanwhile, admitted that even had the club offered to double his salary, he would still have walked out to join Leicester.

"I spoke to Vladimir Romanov and there is a tinge of disappointment that I won’t be able to work with him," he said.

"But even had me offered me twice the money it wouldn’t have made a difference. The issue here wasn’t about money, it was the opportunity."

The former Hearts skipper admitted he has left with something of an unfinished job at Tynecastle but said he couldn’t help the timing of the move.

"I have spent the last four years or so building something at Hearts and it wasn’t finished.

"The team is still improving but you can’t pick and choose the time in situations like these. There is a more to come from this group of players and in any other circumstance I would still be at the club."

Taken from the Scotsman