Source: Team_Talk
Houston would relish Scotland role
Houston says he would jump at the chance to join Craig Levein's Scotland coaching staff, but refused to confirm whether he wanted to succeed him as Terrors manager.[LNB]Levein said at his unveiling as national team boss on Thursday he wanted long-time number two Houston to link up with him again during international matches.[LNB]And the 51-year-old, who has been Levein's lieutenant for almost a decade, would have no hesitation accepting the invitation.[LNB]Speaking after his first match as caretaker manager of United - a goalless SPL draw with Kilmarnock - Houston revealed his former boss had already been in touch.[LNB]He said: "It's very pleasing. If that happens, it'll make me very proud to be part of the Scotland set-up.[LNB]"With a manager like him asking me, it certainly makes me feel brilliant."[LNB]However, Houston was non-committal over whether he would like to fill Levein's shoes at Tannadice.[LNB]"I think it'd be selfish of me to say if I did or I didn't just now," he said.[LNB]"After the week that we've had here, it's not about Peter Houston, what Peter Houston wants.[LNB]"Peter Houston's got two-and-a-half years of a contract, whether it's been the assistant manager, whether it's a coach, whether it's a manager.[LNB]"They've had a traumatic week, the board of directors.[LNB]"The last thing they need is Peter Houston going out saying, 'Give me the job, give me the job'."[LNB]Houston's hesitancy also owes something to his time as caretaker boss of Hearts in 2000.[LNB]He explained: "I was caretaker manager when big Jim Jefferies left to go to Bradford City and I came out right away and said, 'Yeah, I want the job'.[LNB]"I think you put yourself under more pressure, so I'm not going to mention anything about me."[LNB]Asked if he enjoyed the experience, Houston, who also took temporary charge of Leicester when Levein was sacked in 2006, replied: "I've done it three times, so it's not as if it's a new experience.[LNB]"It's frustrating at times but if I'm an assistant manager and I'm standing beside Craig sometimes, it's really frustrating as well."[LNB]Houston admitted Levein's departure this week may have affected his players' performance as they missed a succession of chances to put Killie to the sword.[LNB]"We've lost a top manager to the Scotland job," he said.[LNB]"I think no matter what happens, there's always going to be an effect."[LNB]He added: "We had a couple of balls across the face of the goal in the second half.[LNB]"But the first half I thought we had the better of the chances.[LNB]"Kilmarnock were a big, physical team today.[LNB]"They obviously saw us as a threat at set plays."[LNB]Killie boss Jim Jefferies - who made three changes from last week's damaging 2-1 defeat to Falkirk - admitted he deliberately set up his side to counter United's aerial threat.[LNB]He was also pleased with the way his players coped with the loss of defender Ford midway through the first half following a clash of heads with Sean Dillon.[LNB]Jefferies, whose side host Celtic on Wednesday, said: "He's come out with an absolute shiner, both above the eye and below it. It's closed and it looks very painful.[LNB]"I don't know if he's going to be okay for Wednesday."[LNB]Jefferies, whose team are now two points clear of rock-bottom Falkirk, felt "aggrieved" referee Craig Thomson disallowed a Mark Burchill goal for a foul on Nicky Weaver in the first half.[LNB]Revealing Burchill was adamant he had got to the ball first, the Killie boss said: "He's not been the kindest to us, Craig.[LNB]"He cost me a penalty, which I reminded him of, at Easter Road this year.[LNB]"I thought he might have done us a favour, but no."[LNB][LNB]
