SFA facing pay-out for Levein

18 December 2009 08:27
The 45-year-old was given permission to speak to Gordon Smith - who he has had a tempestuous relationship with in the past - after the SFA chief executive approached United on Wednesday night asking for permission to speak to him.[LNB]United are desperate to hold onto their manager but he has a clause in his contract stipulating he can speak to other employers if he so desires and also sets a level for compensation should he move.[LNB]Aberdeen had looked into appointing him as manager before Mark McGhee got the Pittodrie job last summer but baulked at the price tag.[LNB]Levein met with Tannadice chairman Stephen Thompson on Thursday and was granted permission to meet Smith.[LNB]Those discussions will be held early next week, where Levein will be offered the chance to become Scotland boss.[LNB]The SFA paid former manager George Burley £300,000 a year but will face a heftier wage bill if they are to get Levein, who is currently on a similar salary at United if he meets several performance-related targets.[LNB]Thompson met with the rest of his board and manager yesterday before giving Levein his blessing to speak to the SFA, although he insists has not given up hope of keeping the former Hearts and Leicester boss at Tannadice.[LNB]He said: "It was Craig's request that he wanted to speak to them so that was why we reluctantly agreed.[LNB]"But giving him permission is not us giving up on keeping him. It doesn't mean he's away and our fans should know we'll do everything in our power to persuade him to stay.[LNB]"It's a national team job, managing the country you played for and support - it's a massive thing.[LNB]"And it won't just be about money for him. There are a lot of things to think about.[LNB]"We don't want to lose Craig because we rate him highly.[LNB]"He's done well in his time here and that's why the SFA have made contact with us to speak to him.[LNB]"You always want to hold onto someone who is doing a good job. He's taken us from the bottom of the league into the top six and now at the top end of the table.[LNB]"Craig is ambitious, we all know that, but he's not gone yet so we've not given up hope.[LNB]"It's perfectly possible he will stay here. Obviously that's outwith our control now but we'll see what happens.[LNB]"I don't know how fast the SFA will work but I can't see it dragging on."[LNB]Thompson was incensed news of the SFA's intentions were leaked to the media after Smith agreed to keep their dealings confidential.[LNB]As a result, the United owner has written a formal letter of complaint.[LNB]He revealed: "I have expressed my unhappiness about how things came out in the newspapers and I've put that in writing.[LNB]"He asked for everything to be done privately but within three or four hours I got a phone call about it from a journalist.[LNB]"I just hope it's dealt with properly from now on."[LNB]If, as expected, Levein is offered the Scotland job United may ask the SFA to allow him to continue in his current role until a successor is found.[LNB][LNB]

Source: Team_Talk