Levein vows to fight on as Scotland boss

17 October 2012 13:47

Craig Levein pledged Wednesday to tough it out as Scotland manager as pressure on him grew after his side's 2-0 loss in their World Cup qualifier against Belgium.

The defeat in Brussels on Tuesday left Scotland bottom of their qualifying group and with their chances of qualifying for the 2014 finals in Brazil looking bleak.

It means they are the only team still seeking a win in Group A after draws at home to Serbia and Macedonia last month and the 2-1 defeat to Wales on Friday.

Asked if he will consider his position, Levein said: "Not at all. I'm very proud to be the Scotland national team manager and I want to continue to do so.

He added: "All I can tell you is that I want to remain as the manager, that's what I want to do.

"Other than that, you will have to ask other people the questions you are asking me. It's impossible for me to answer.

"I'm interested in staying in the job and working hard to improve things."

The decision could be taken out of Levein's hands by his bosses at the Scottish Football Association (SFA).

Levein's side have won only three out of 12 competitive matches, a record worse than that of previous managers Berti Vogts, who resigned, and George Burley, who was sacked.

The former Dundee United, Hearts and Leicester City manager told BBC radio: "I want to stay on as Scotland manager -- that's my decision -- but the rest is not up to me.

"I'll just continue to do the job to the best of my ability and we'll see what happens.

"I've been involved in football before with teams which are struggling and the fight's gone out of them -- the fight's not gone out of this lot.

"You see tonight with the effort that they've put in -- and in all their matches actually -- and I've got to commend them and thank them for what they've done.

"Sometimes in football you just don't get things going your way and that's happened to us."

On their hopes of reaching Brazil, Levein said: "It looks very difficult. We are sitting with two points out of 12."

Source: AFP