You can’t be Levein Craig in the boardroom
Gaffer is the best man to bring glory days back to Tynecastle says Housty
PETER HOUSTON always felt Craig Levein’s talents were wasted in the directors box because he belongs in the dugout.
No one was more thrilled than the former Hearts No.2 when Levein answered the call from owner Ann Budge to juggle his director of football responsibilities with the head coach role after Ian Cathro’s sacking a year ago this month.
Two wins out of two in the league this season against Hamilton and Celtic have propelled Hearts to the top of the table.
And while Houston is aware it’s still early he insists Saturday’s morale-boosting 1-0 win over the champions should give Jambos fans cause for optimism that Levein can have them challenging for major honours again.
Houston, who was Levein’s assistant with Hearts and Scotland, said: “I am pleased for Craig first and foremost. The pressure was on the big man in many ways. Many people were waiting on him to make bad decisions and wrong decisions.
“I’ve said all along Craig is a top manager. When he took over as director of football I felt he was leaving management too early.
“He is back in for one reason or another and has proved to himself he can build teams because he has been doing it for such a long time.
“Craig knows what he is looking for and how he wants to go about it.
“I watched the Hearts game against Accies and their second-half performance was exceptional. What should give Hearts a massive boost of confidence is that after beating Hamilton people kept saying, ‘ That’s all fine and well but it’s Celtic next week and that’s where they will be tested.’
“But Hearts showed with their performance against Celtic they fully deserved to win the match and that’s answered a lot of critics.
“If Hearts can’t take confidence from beating Celtic they never will. The place has been lifted and I sense that among the Hearts supporters. They have recognised this is a new team under Craig and they are going about their business in the right way.
“This is a big year for Craig and it was a big pre-season for him in terms of his new signings and so far the club have made a positive start.
“The game against Celtic was huge for the club so early in the season and they passed the test with flying colours.”
Hearts are the only team in the Premiership with a 100 per cent record while Hibs sit second and Houston is delighted to see the Edinburgh clubs leading the way.
He said: “Both Hearts and Hibs are buoyant at this minute. Hearts are also turning the new- look Tynecastle into a fortress once again and that is important.
“Winning your home matches is vital if you want to be challenging at the top end of the table as well as for silverware.”
Houston would love to see Hearts hold on to Kyle Lafferty for the rest of the season despite interest from Rangers.
But he knows his match-winning exploits against Celtic may have heightened interest in the Northern Irishman.
Housty said: “It would be better for Hearts if they can hold on to Kyle. From a footballing perspective the ideal scenario for Craig and Hearts is he stays.
“Hearts will be desperate to keep him but money talks.”