Craig Levein is the right man to lead Scotland into their 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign, Scottish Football Association (SFA) chief executive Stewart Regan said on Wednesday.
Regan's backing for the manager comes less than 24 hours after Scotland's hopes of making the Euro 2012 play-offs ended with a 3-1 defeat to Spain in Alicante.
Regan however is convinced Levein remains the right man to take Scotland forward.
He told www.scottishfa.co.uk: "I always make a point of wishing the manager the best of luck before a game and speaking to him afterwards.
"It is important that he knows he has the full support of myself and everyone at the Scottish FA.
"Both myself, SFA vice-president Campbell Ogilvie and performance director Mark Wotte agreed that we lost to a formidable and near-invincible Spanish team. What was encouraging was seeing David Goodwillie score his first goal, and Scotland creating several chances against the world champions."
Regan added: "It is simple. We reflect on the campaign as a whole and prepare for the FIFA World Cup 2014 qualifying campaign.
"On a personal level, I am hugely impressed by the work being carried out by Craig and anyone who speaks to the players in the squad will realise just how big an impact he has made on a team that, frankly, was in disarray before he took over.
"The players believe in what he wants to achieve and the performances and results are continuing to improve.
"I've mentioned Goodwillie but you can also look at the impact Barry Bannan, Charlie Adam, Phil Bardsley and now Craig Mackail-Smith are making: these players have all come to prominence under Craig Levein. He is dedicated to taking this team forward and qualifying for the World Cup in Brazil in 2014."
Scotland have not qualified for the finals of a major tournament since the 1998 World Cup in France, but Regan is confident steps are being made in the right direction.
"I share Craig's disappointment at not reaching the play-offs but I defy anyone to look at the squad we have now, compare it to the early period of Craig's tenure, and say we have not made considerable progress," he said.
"Throughout the campaign, we have developed not just in terms of personnel but in identifying a style of play that works."
Source: AFP
