Levein loves life in City ‘mentor’ role

Former Scotland and Dundee United boss Craig Levein has hailed the “refreshing” nature of the Highland League with Brechin City.

The 57-year-old has taken charge of teams against some of the biggest opponents in European football.

Now he finds himself in an advisory role for the Angus club as they look to win back their SPFL place.

Levein took on the director of football-style role last summer after being approached by good friend and Brechin chairman Kevin Mackie.

He admits his position is not as “hands-on” as his similar role at Hearts but he is always there to assist first-team coach Andy Kirk.

“Andy is the one who is making the decisions, doing the training and identifying how we want to play and putting that into practice,” Levein told Courier Sport.

“My job is just helping him, in a number of ways. I’m there to give some advice, if required.

“I go to all the training sessions and matches, I rarely miss one.

“Andy uses me as a sounding board. Sometimes he uses me to contact people at clubs to see if I can get deals done. I see it as a role giving Andy access to my experience.

“But it’s not exactly the same as my role as director of football when I was at Hearts.”

Prior to his role with Brechin, Levein was also in charge of the Jambos until October 2019.

After nearly two years away from the game he returned, albeit in the fifthtier of Scottish football.

Rather than turn his nose up at the lower standard of the game, Levein admits he likes the “blood and thunder” nature of the Highland League as it reminds him of his playing days.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it,” he said. “People in the Highland League have been hugely welcoming.

“The football has been good. It’s probably like football in the 1980s.

“There is a lot of stuff that has crept into the professional game which is about getting away with what you can.

“In the Highland League it’s raw, old-fashioned, competitive and tough.

“The referees are willing to let a lot of things go.

“It’s slightly different to league football. For me, that has become sanitised and you’re barely allowed to make a strong tackle without a yellow or red card flashed.

“I have found the Highland League to be refreshing, in that regard.

“In every game there’s a consistency and I quite like it.”

EXPERIENCE: Craig Levein has been working as an adviser to Brechin City manager Andy Kirk.

Craig Levein in action for Hearts in 1986.