LEVEIN AXED AFTER LEADING LEICESTER

FORMER Hearts boss Craig Levein was last night sacked as manager of Leicester City.

Levein had come under increasing pressure after the English Championship side slumped into the relegation zone.

And Tuesday's 1-0 defeat at Plymouth - the sixth loss on the trot - proved to be the final straw for the Leicester board.

Last night Levein's old chairman at Tynecastle, George Foulkes, admitted the move south may have come too early for the coach, who took the job in November 2004.

Foulkes said: "I was of the view Craig probably rushed too quickly away from Hearts.

"I think it would have been better for his own career if he had spent a bit more time at Tynecastle but he wanted the move."

Levein was brought in to replace Micky Adams, who resigned when the Foxes were 12th in the table and four points outside the play-off places. But a promotion push failed to materialise and under the Scot's stewardship the club finished the campaign in 15th place.

Results this season set alarm b ells ringing and Levein was axed along with first-team coach Peter Houston and reserve-team coach Kenny Black.

Levein said: "Peter, Kenny Black and I are disappointed to be leaving the club.

"With the full co-operation of the board, we embarked on along-term strategy to reduce the wage bill, reduce the average age of the team and build the foundations for long-term success.

"We felt we were making significant progress and reaching the quarter-finals of the FA Cup last season and beating Tottenham this month seemed to bear that out.

"Also, with the introduction of players such as Richard Stearman, Paddy McCarthy and Stephen Hughes, among others, we feel the club have some valuable assets.

"However, we knew with such a young squad that consistency would be hard to achieve and we understand the board have taken the view results were causing major concern.

"We wish the club every success and are certain the club will reap the benefits of the work we've put in."

Chief executive Tim Davies accepted many of their targets for the club had been achieved but results were the big issue. He said: "Our league position is unacceptable. We've had great support from our fans and all of us have one goal - to avoid relegation. We see this as the way forward to do this."

Levein's former assistant Rob Kelly has been made caretaker boss.

Taken from the Daily Record