Levein back in dugout as Hearts start from scratch
HEARTS ripped up their managerial blueprint yesterday as Craig Levein made a sensational return to the dugout. Having been tasked with finding a replacement for axed rookie Ian Cathro, Levein’s insistence on the new ‘head coach’ working within the established set-up — reporting directly to him as director of football — was an unattractive scenario for a number of a big-name candidates. Despite that, both Steven Pressley and Paul Hartley were willing to take on the role. However, Hearts owner Ann Budge revealed yesterday that, 13 years on from his last stint in charge of the team, Levein was being appointed not as head coach — but as ‘first-team manager’. He will not be overseen by a new director of football and will keep his place on the board.
Sportsmail revealed yesterday that Levein had
made a dramatic surge to top the list of contenders. And Budge said: ‘Having presented our plan to all members of the coaching staff and to our captain, I can confirm that everyone is fully behind it. ‘We are, therefore, delighted that Craig has agreed to take on this challenge and for the avoidance of doubt, yes, he will be taking his place in the dugout. And yes, for the first time in the last three years, he will indeed be picking the team!’ Levein, whose perceived interference in first-team affairs had long been a bone of contention among sections of the Hearts support, will be officially unveiled today. While the length of his contract was being negotiated last night, the 52-year-old will
not be filling in until just the end of the season. He is retaining promoted Under20s coach Jon Daly, who had impressed in an interim role since Cathro’s sacking, as one of four first-team assistants. Budge stated that Levein will ‘retain the overall responsibilities associated with the wider role of director of football’, adding: ‘To enable Craig to focus fully on the football manager remit, some minor changes to roles, responsibilities and reporting lines will be implemented within the current coaching team set-up and within the youth academy structure.’