Levein hits back at Stewart
CRAIG LEVEIN last night hit back at arch-critic Michael Stewart insisting the former Hearts midfielder holds a personal agenda against him. BBC pundit Stewart has been vociferous in his criticism of Levein both in his role as Tynecastle director of football and again since his appointment as manager after the failed Ian Cathro project. Revealing that he had spoken to the broadcaster about Stewart’s comments, Levein added: ‘He doesn’t
like me, he’s openly admitted it and I don’t like him. ‘It is personal and he is just making a fool of himself. ‘I can take criticism if it’s fair and it’s based on something other than a grudge but he’s just going to self-combust one day, that’s for sure. ‘I am annoyed at the BBC. ‘For him to admit that he has an agenda (against me) and for them to still allow him the platform, for me, that is a nonsense. He is trying to whip up fans and as I say it is the BBC. ‘They have allowed him that opportunity but I have had a conversation, so we will see what happens.’ Stewart retired from football in 2011 and has since become a regular on both television and radio. ‘He has continually attacked Levein for Hearts’ struggles this season and believed the manager’s ‘head was on the block’. But with an improved performance last weekend in the goalless draw with Ross County still subject to a slaughtering from Stewart, Levein (right) blasted the vitriol aired by the pundit. ‘Someone was telling me that he was trawling about on Saturday night trying to find stuff on the internet to prove that we hadn’t played well,’ Levein continued. ‘It is hysterical. He just needs to chill. ‘We played well and had all those chances and it got to the point where I thought if he can’t accept that and is still trying to pick holes in it, for me, it comes back to the BBC allowing him to do that. ‘I’m not at any point saying that I don’t deserve any criticism. ‘I have had more criticism than most, particularly during my time at Scotland but criticism of me at that time was valid. ‘But when he has admitted he has an agenda and keeps going on about the same stuff over and over and over again, I really just don’t see how that is fair. ‘I just don’t get it and the BBC for me have always been a company that plays it straight down the middle.’ In a stinging barb to his comments, Levein recounted Stewart’s 2004 loan move to Tynecastle from Manchester United, adding: ‘All I can say for Michael is that his agent at the time was a guy called George Wright, who used to play here. ‘We didn’t have any money at the time but he (George) said that Man United would cover his (Stewart’s) salary. ‘However, we had to put something on the contract as well, so it was £1 a week and, without doubt, it was the worst value for money for a player I have ever had and that is a fact.’