THIS WON’T BE A GRUDGE MATCH
BETFRED CUP Levein says Hearts fans should welcome his prodigy back GIVE ROBBIE A CHEER
BY MICHAEL GANNON CRAIG LEVEIN insists Hearts fans should warmly welcome Robbie Neilson’s return – even though he still feels he was wrong to swap Tynecastle for MK Dons.
Dundee United boss Neilson took the Gorgie men back to the top flight after blowing away Rangers and Hibs in the Championship – then led the side back into Europe.
But incredibly the former Hearts head coach still copped flak from a section of the support.
The infamous “No Style, No Bottle, Neilson Out” plane banner over Tynie left a sour taste before he jumped ship for the English side with Hearts sitting second in the table in December 2016.
Levein – who was director of football at the time – doesn’t hold a grudge but hasn’t changed his view on Neilson’s choice of destination.
The pair will square up tomorrow night in Edinburgh in the Betfred Cup and while the Jambos manager will park sentiment he hopes the Gorgie faithful have had a change in heart. Rangers and Hibs won by March was a major achievement in my eyes.”
Levein reckons Neilson’s singleminded nature made him ideal to become a boss – but it also made it impossible to talk him out of leaving Tynecastle three years ago for the English League One outfit.
He said: “I thought it was the wrong place for him. I didn’t think there was enough support there, the structure wasn’t right.
“Robbie’s a very determined guy and there was nothing I could have said that would have made CRAIG LEVEIN ON HIS OLD HEARTS PRODIGY
Levein reckons the ex-gaffer was under appreciated in his time and said: “Robbie will get a nice welcome from me. He should get a great welcome from everybody.
“He did a terrific job and it’s sometimes overlooked.
“To have a league that included a difference. It’s difficult to go in to a completely new environment and I’m not sure he had as much help as he needed.
“But that’s water under the bridge. I’m glad he’s back in a job at a good club. There has been new investment there and it’s an opportunity to get back on track.”
Levein made the bold move to promote Neilson from the Hearts Under-20s to first team but was convinced his man would crack it in the dugout.
He said: “I had him as a player and know his character and type of person he was. I also knew he was doing a fantastic job here with the 20s. At that time you’re always looking at people with potential and he had a lot of that.
“He was already in the building and it needed a change.
“When you get on a slide it can be very difficult to halt it and for me the best way to do it is to make a complete change and that’s what happened.”
Hearts could not have landed a tougher Betfred Cup clash at this stage of the season.
But Levein said: “I have long ago stopped complaining about these things. We knew the start dates before the end of last season so there’s no point complaining about it. It does provide challenges.”