Scotland search for new manager following Levein’s dismissal

Craig Levein_06-11-12

By Andrew Warshaw

November 6 – Scotland are looking for a new manager after Craig Levein was dismissed following three years in the job.

Levein (pictured top), 48, departed with Scotland bottom of their FIFA World Cup qualifying group with just two points and unlikely to qualify for the 2014 finals.

A seven-man Scottish Football Association (SFA) board met last week over the future of Levein, whose contract was due to expire around the time of the World Cup itself, and took several days before reaching a decision.

Early favourites to replace Levein include fellow Scots Gordon Strachan, the ex-Leeds and Southampton manager, and Alex McLeish (pictured below) who has already managed his country once and is out of a job after leaving Aston Villa in the summer.

Alex McLeish_06-11-12
Pressure on Levein, appointed in December 2009, grew after Scotland drew their opening home qualifiers against Serbia and Macedonia, then lost to Wales and Belgium.

Under-21 coach Billy Stark has been put in temporary charge starting with next week’s friendly with Luxembourg.

“We are bottom of the group, but we are not bottom of the group material,” said a SFA statement.

SFA chief executive Stewart Regan added: “We are taking this decision with real sadness.

“Craig has worked hard to bring success and has been thoroughly professional in his approach to the job.

“However, he would be the first to agree that football is a results-driven business.”

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