LEVEIN CAN STEADY SHIP — ARCHIBALD

PARTICK Thistle boss Alan Archibald reckons his old manager Craig Levein is the perfect man to lead Hearts through stormy waters.

Archibald was still on the books at Dundee United when Levein took up the reins at Tannadice in 2006 and saw first hand t he attention t o detail t hat eventually took his boss to the Scotland job.

Levein has now returned to management after a three-year spell as t he Jambos’ director of football and will lead his side to the Energy Check Stadium at Firhill to face Archibald’s team tomorrow.

The Jags boss believes there is still plenty of quality on offer, despite the Gorgie men’s troubled start to the campaign, and says Levein is just the man for the job.

“I played under Craig for a spell, so I know what he’s like and how prepared he will be,” said Archibald.

“His planning is always meticulous and so well-organised.

“I wasn’t surprised to see him back in the dugout. Once you’ve done the job, I don’t think it ever leaves you and there’s always a desire to get back to it.

“He will make Hearts a bit harder to beat. They needed the ship steadied a bit after a turbulent few months. Craig is still a very good manager and he will make them organised first and foremost.

“But they have quality players like Jamie Walker, too, so they have enough craft and guile to make them hard to beat.

“I t ’s b e e n a d i f f i c u l t period for Hearts but most people in football are well aware they still have a very good squad.”