Craig Levein's time was up, so why did it take the SFA so long to act?

The results were not good enough but the manager did not merit the Scottish Football Asociation's indecision

Ewan Murray
The Guardian, Monday 5 November 2012 17.53 GMT

The Scottish Football Association ultimately arrived at the right decision with regards to Craig Levein, even if the backdrop to that cannot be described as anything other than farcical. Faith in those in charge of Scotland's national game is at a low ebb and understandably so.

Twenty days have now passed since Scotland timidly lost in Brussels, with every informed voice in the immediate aftermath of that game pointing to the imminent end of the road for Levein. Yet the SFA board delayed and dallied to the extent that a split was clear and it was impossible not to feel sorry for Levein, a decent and conscientious employee who did not merit such shocking indecision.

One is bound to wonder when exactly Levein's fate would have been confirmed if a Scotland squad for next week's match in Luxembourg was not due to be announced on Tuesday. The SFA came close to blundering in a similar manner as before, when holding on to managers for longer than was healthy for either the manager himself or the national side.

Scotland's under-performance during Levein's tenure was the blunt and basic issue which sealed the manager's fate. The Scots are no longer of significant enough football standing to expect to qualify for major tournaments as routine but the tame ending of their 2014 World Cup hopes within four matches should not be accepted. Scotland were similarly unimpressive in their Euro 2012 qualifying section with Levein also on the receiving end of the kind of bad fortune which suggested his reign was ill-fated.

Levein never produced a telling antidote to those matters. All too frequently Scotland were blunt and lacking in tempo. Their manager's infamous 4-6-0 tactical approach against the Czech Republic in Prague offered a depressing insight into his valuation of the players at his disposal.

In 12 competitive games Levein's Scotland won only three times – twice against Liechtenstein and once over Lithuania. The team was too frequently praised without justification.

The level of scepticism which emanated from supporters towards the manager from the early days of his spell in charge seemed unfair, even if thereafter there were no indications that Levein could positively alter public opinion. With regard to team selection and public comments from the manager, there were inconsistencies.

Those who backed Levein did so while underestimating the ability of the Scottish squad. It is perfectly reasonable to highlight the lack of world-class Scottish players but those at Levein's disposal are better than their displays over three years suggest. The assertion that no manager could possibly do better is not borne out by the reality of football at any level.

Gordon Strachan seems the obvious candidate to succeed Levein but should not be considered in isolation. The former Scotland international was a better Celtic manager than many gave him credit for and has previously displayed the kind of passion for his country which could translate well into management. His profile fits.

Yet Strachan's troubles at Middlesbrough should not be entirely ignored; nor should the presence of Joe Jordan, Owen Coyle, Billy Davies and Alex McLeish as out-of-work Scottish-born coaches. Depending on finances, it would also be sensible to spread a wider net in an attempt to halt Scotland's alarming international decline.

It was not for the want of trying that Levein could not manage that. There is, however, little cause to remember his reign fondly; or indeed the shambolic way in which his exit was handled.

Taken from the Guardian/Observer