CRAIG HAD TO SAY YES TO ROVERS

CRAIG LEVEIN has joined Raith Rovers with no strings attached -except for the emotional ones that tugged at his heart to make a managerial return to the club he used to support.

The former Hearts boss will make a surprise comeback in the dugout this weekend.

Levein, 41, has been brought in on a non-contract basis by the Second Division strugglers, who parted company with Gordon Dalziel after the season started with the team taking five points from five league games and going out of the CIS Cup and Challenge Cup.

The new Rovers board, with Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown lending influence and support, have pulled off a coup in luring Levein to Kirkcaldy after stints at Tynecastle and Leicester, even though it is likely to be a short-term appointment.

Levein, who has brought in former Cowdenbeath assistant Gary Kirk to work alongside him, will lead his new side for the first time on Saturday at Stair Park in Stranraer.

The new boss admits he would not have returned to such a low level for any other club - even though he would have good cause to curse the mention of their very name.

After all, this was the team that rejected him in 1981 because he wasn't up to standard, just months before he signed for Cowdenbeath and took the first steps on a career that saw him spend 14 years at Hearts and win 16 Scotland caps.

Levein said: "Rovers watched me on numerous occasions when I was at Lochore Welfare but didn't think I was good enough and it broke my heart.

"They signed my older brother Paul, who was a striker, and I was very jealous. I was so disappointed as it was the club I had supported when I was a youngster.

"My uncle Harry first took me to games when I was seven and for a few seasons before I joined Cowdenbeath I didn't miss a game, home or away.

"I would not claim to be a staunch fan because, let's face it, I've been away doing other things for so many years.

"But I've always retained an interest in how Rovers were doing and there was a wee tug at my heart-strings when they firstmade the approach.

"I dismissed the approach at first because I've been waiting for something in the SPL or in England. But I gave it more thought and spoke to Rovers again.

"I was honest with them and told them I didn't want to take myself out of the marketplace.

"I've joined the club on a non-contract basis. It's almost like a football consultant's role.

"I've taken on the job for two reasons - I want to get back to work as I've been twiddling my thumbs since February and the challenge at this club genuinely excitesme.

"I might not be taking a team to big stadia to play in front of thousands of fans but it's a tremendous challenge nonetheless.

"It might prove to be a very short-term appointment - weeks, rather than months - but I'm determined to give everything I've got to get the club back on track as quickly as possible.

"It isn't only about taking the first team on a Saturday as the board want to tap into my knowledge and experience of integrating youth teams towards the first team and structuring the playing side of the club properly."

Taken from the Daily Record