Smith gives Scotland advice to Levein

But the Rangers boss believes the Scottish Football Association have identified the right man to transform the fortunes of the national team.Dundee United have confirmed that Levein, 45, has left the Tayside club, paving the way for him to succeed George Burley as Scotland boss."Patience is not something you are going to get," said Smith, who was also linked with a return to the post in the wake of Burley's sacking last month."There isn't such a thing. That's one of the pressures that you take on board when you go to the national team."It's good to have everyone behind you but you have to go in and show there is an upturn right away. That's the same for every managerial job."If anyone knows what it takes to resurrect the hopes of a nation, it is Smith.He managed to steer Scotland back on course in the wake of Berti Vogts' disastrous rein and has backed Levein to do the same this time around."I think Scotland have still got a good squad of players and a squad of players who still have a basis to achieve a decent level of success," said Smith."I don't think anybody is going to say we are going to win tournaments or anything like that."But I think Craig can get the team back up into a position where we would be challenging for qualification for finals to tournaments."That would ultimately be a success for Scotland."Smith ruled himself out of the running after reports suggested he had emerged as one of the SFA's preferred candidates to succeed Burley.But, despite his reluctance to return to the role he held for two years, the Ibrox boss insisted: "I don't think it's a poisoned chalice."There is nowhere near the number of people playing football now in Scotland that there should be and that always limits your opportunities at the top level."But I still think we have a number of players that can bring success. That lack of players isn't just in Scotland, it's happening in a load of countries."Scotland still have a number of players who, if you get them together - which Craig has been good at with his teams - still have the opportunity to succeed."Asked what advice he would offer Levein, Smith replied: "To go in and enjoy the job and hopefully get everything together again and get Scotland going well."But I don't think it should be for me to give him advice. I just hope, like everybody else, that he does extremely well in the job."It's important that our national team, as well as our club sides, show that the profile of Scottish football is good. That includes the national team so I hope Craig does well."

Source: Team_Talk