The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Friendly rivalry will be renewed in 2020
TANGERINES: Crawford surprised to see Neilson back in Championship
Stevie Crawford admits he is “surprised” he will be coming up against pal Robbie Neilson again next season – but not that his former gaffer has returned to Hearts.
Crawford was Neilson’s assistant during his first spell in charge at Tynecastle before they left together to take over at MK Dons.
Neilson wanted his number two to join him again at United, only for Crawford to instead commit his future to Dunfermline.
They subsequently went head to head in the Championship last season but, after United were promoted to the Championship, Crawford was not expecting to renew their friendly rivalry again next term.
He said: “I didn’t find out until Sunday evening but I have spoken to Robbie to wish him all the best. I didn’t go into the ins and outs of why, that is up to him to work out his reasons for it.
“But I know that Robbie played the majority of his playing days at Hearts and he really enjoyed that spell as head coach when I worked with him at the club.
“It just seemed that the attraction was too good for him and he felt that it was the right decision for himself.
“No doubt we will find ourselves facing each other next season again, which comes as a surprise, but I just wish him all the best in that role.”
Crawford has an insight into Scottish football’s other main managerial change this summer, having had Callum Davidson as his own assistant for a short spell last year.
Davidson joined the Pars in February 2019 but left at the end of the season before rejoining Gary Rowett at Millwall in the October.
With the former Scotland defender taking over as Tommy Wright’s successor at St Johnstone earlier this month, Crawford is thrilled to see his former international team-mate land his first manager’s job.
He added: “I was fortunate to bring Callum in when he was out of work last year. We had been on the Pro Licence together and, when I worked with Falkirk, Callum was based at Stirling University with St Johnstone, so we had many a conversation in our spells there.
“It was the right thing for him, I think. He has obviously got fond memories of his playing career there, he worked under Tommy Wright on the coaching side, so to be able to get his first manager’s post at a club which he has a good affiliation with, it was too good an opportunity to turn down.
“I texted him wishing him all the very best and no doubt we will be in contact over the next few months, just to bounce a few things off one another with the challenges that we are going to be facing.
“I am absolutely delighted for him, he is a great boy.”