SFA taking too long to decide on Levein, says Houston

Michael Grant
Chief football writer

Peter Houston, the Scotland assistant manager, criticised the SFA last night for taking so long to reach a decision on the future of Craig Levein.

An announcement will be made by the SFA's seven-man board this morning, almost three weeks after Scotland went bottom of their Word Cup group by losing to Belgium and only a day before the squad is announced for next week's friendly match in Luxembourg.

The Scotland manager has been kept dangling while the board has deliberated for several days about whether to give him more time to work with the international squad or else dismiss him immediately.

Houston and coach Kenny Black will leave with Levein if he is dismissed – national Under-21 manager Billy Stark would probably be asked to be caretaker manager for the game in Luxembourg – and yesterday the Dundee United manager expressed a firm view on how his friend had been treated.

"It shouldn't have taken so long, if I'm being honest," said Houston. "It's been three weeks since the Belgium game. Fair enough, the SFA wanted the whole situation to calm down a wee bit before discussing it, but now that they have discussed it over two days – as I believe they have from what I've seen in the newspapers and on tele-vision – it shouldn't be that hard to make a decision.

"Has the decision been made? Do they want to keep Craig Levein as manager or not? It shouldn't take three days of conference calls to decide that. That's not any of my business, but I still regard Craig as one of the top managers in the game. I have worked with him for so long and I know how good he is. I would like him to stay on.

"It's now not in Craig's hands, it's up to the SFA, who have had plenty of chances to discuss it and reach a decision."

The board consists of SFA chief executive Stewart Regan, president Campbell Ogilvie, vice-presidents Alan McRae and Rod Petrie, SPL chairman Ralph Topping, Tom Johnston of the Scottish Junior FA and independent non-executive director Barrie Jackson.

Houston and Black will leave if Levein is dismissed. "I don't have a contract with the SFA," said Houston. "I joined Craig as his assistant when he asked me. I don't get any money for it and never wanted any money for it. There is money paid to the football club, which is used for youth development and pays for pitches for the under-13s and under-14s, which is great, and the chairman agreed to that. But I took the role of assisting and helping Craig because we go back a long way together.

"If Craig is removed from his post then I will make a phone call to the SFA. If that is the case, then I know what I will be doing."

Taken from the Herald