Source: Team_Talk
Levein keen to see performance director
Scotland manager Craig Levein has thrown his backing behind plans for the Scottish Football Association to recruit a performance director.[LNB] The appointment of someone to oversee talent development was one of the key recommendations in the first part of Henry McLeish's Scottish Football Review.[LNB]Levein will have an input into who that person will be and believes the role is long overdue.[LNB]He said: "What is happening at this minute in time is that the criteria for the job and exactly what the job will entail is being set. I'm happy to have an influence on that.[LNB]"I do feel, especially at the elite levels, it's a bit haphazard at the moment.[LNB]"There is no driving force behind it. It's generally left to the first team coach to try to set the agenda. I don't think that's right.[LNB]"Most people are interested in how the national team gets on and there has to be more direction.[LNB]"There isn't enough just now and it comes down, at times, to myself. I don't think it should be as haphazard as that, that it relies on the incumbent manager to set the tone for everything.[LNB]"There should be somebody who looks after that elite strand and takes care of what we are trying to do as a nation.[LNB]"We are trying to get some sense of pride and depth of feeling back into the national team. This person will partly be responsible for that.[LNB]"It's a process which is ongoing. It's something we haven't had in the past and it shows a level of professionalism that maybe we haven't had in the past."[LNB]Asked whether the the role is likely to go to a 'football person', Levein added: "It might not be. We are setting the criteria just now.[LNB]"Performance can mean a number of different things. So there are quite a lot of things to look into and it will need to be somebody who understands sport 100%.[LNB]"I don't want to close any doors but, in all likelihood, it probably will be a football person."[LNB]Levein has also welcomed the news that Peter Houston has been given the green light by Dundee United to continue to work alongside him with the national team.[LNB]Houston took charge of team affairs when Levein quit the Tannadice club back in December and this week signed on as the club's manager for the next three years.[LNB]Levein said: "I'm thrilled he's going to be working with Scotland as well, which is important.[LNB]"We had Peter along for the Czech Republic game and got into a bit of a rhythm.[LNB]"It was only for a few days but I don't want to be chopping and changing all the time so that when the players come up they are wondering who's going to be involved.[LNB]"To be fair to [United chairman] Stephen Thompson, going way back to when I left to take the Scotland job, we had an agreement then.[LNB]"I think it's a reciprocal thing; Peter has done really well for him and he'll allow Peter to be involved in the national set-up.[LNB]"For me, it gives me continuity. I've worked with Peter, I know exactly what he's all about and he knows what I'm about.[LNB]"It gives a stability because the players know who's going to be there and they can quickly get a handle on how we work, which I think is important."
