An audience with Craig Levein, and manager is sitting pretty – for now

Published on Thursday 4 February 2010 22:09

ROBBIE Keane is set to make his debut for Celtic. A national cup semi-final is also on the schedule, together with a league match between Aberdeen and Falkirk on what turns out to be a semi-seismic night of results.

It's clear the eyes of Scottish football are focused elsewhere than on a cosy little theatre in St Andrews. But this is where the manager of Scotland could be found on Tuesday night, fulfilling a fund-raising pledge given to the leading cancer charity AICR (Association for International Cancer Research).

Being here when so much else is going on hands the event an even greater feeling of exclusivity, and means Craig Levein's presence for a question-and-answer session that never flags is appreciated even more by those gathered. But then Keane's debut is of no concern to him. Neither are Celtic, sadly. The Parkhead club have recently been fielding teams without a Scot, at least not one Levein can call upon. It sums up the problems facing him as he prepares for his first weekend on official duty, when he will gather in Poland with the likes of Fabio Capello and Vincent del Bosque at the draw for the European Championship qualifiers.

But if it's Tuesday, it must be St Andrews. It's clear Levein, who himself hails from the loamy field of Fife, is among – mostly – his ain folk. Many, judging from the questions later delivered from the audience, really did ken his late father. Frankie, an old coach from Levein's days at Lochore Welfare, made himself known, and the manager's face brightens. "You're wearing better than me," smiled Levein.

It's fascinating to view a Scotland manager so disarmed, though Levein has always had something of the man of the people about him. He was content to return to Cowdenbeath as a manager, happy to start again. It's what helped bring him to this point, where members of the public are happy to fork out money – over 200 have paid at least 10 for tickets – just to hear him speak. If Levein – dressed in a pair of slacks and open-necked shirt – feels uneasy with this concept at first, he quickly sheds any anxiety.

"Savour the welcome Craig – it might not last," advised journalist Graham Spiers, the host for the evening. The pair are now on stage, reclining in seats that bring to mind the set for the History Today sketch, from The Mary Whitehouse Experience.

The proceedings get underway with a short exchange of dialogue between Spiers and Levein. It's almost immediately apparent that Levein has what his predecessor sadly lacked, and that is presence. George Burley is a good man, undoubtedly. But Levein has the natural ability to engage. He has the audience in the palm of his hand. There is the kind of rapt attention normally found at a poetry recital, even if the pints set down at the feet of many reveal something of the make-up of the audience. This is a Tartan Army event, though all are on their best behaviour.

A quick show of hands at the start shows that Dundee United fans are the most dominant group. There are a few from Dunfermline and Raith Rovers, a healthily low smattering of supporters of Rangers and Celtic. And while Dundee are probably the club best represented after United, Levein, the man credited with reviving the Tannadice club, can rest easy. Club loyalties have been left at the door.

The agenda for most began and ended with Scotland. Here, amid dreaming spires and ancient steeples, in a venue preparing to host shows such as 'Leschenko plays Chopin', there is little danger of Levein being given the kind of treatment Burley might have received – even here on the becalmed streets of St Andrews – in the last, desperate days of his reign.

But then, as Spiers points out, it is only day 66 of the Levein era. Things – so far – have been plain-sailing, though conditions are optimal; Scotland have yet to play a game. If only it could stay thus. Indeed, some fear that it might. An audience member has come prepared. Scotland are scheduled to play only one match – against Czech Republic in March – between January and July, he points out. Not since 1946 has this happened. But Levein's antipathy towards friendlies is already well known. "You've done your research," accepted Levein. "But I have my own philosophy." He is polite, but firm.

It never gets tetchy, though one gentleman – and good on him for this – is having trouble accepting Kris Boyd being able to pick and choose the managers he will play for. But Levein stands his ground: "He clearly stated that he and George Burley had a problem," said Levein. "The reason he made that plain, I believe, is that he wanted to play for Scotland again."

Levein is prodded on the usual subjects. He is 100 per cent in favour of summer football, but insists it won't ever happen. He thinks one of the main problems with the Scottish football team is that they have lost "the Scottish grit". And he is desperate to see the annual fixture with England restored. He also reveals he turned down three jobs offers at United – two from clubs in England, and one in Scotland.

There are other interesting observations. Danny Swanson, the United winger, is "the best technical footballer" Levein has worked with. An additional piece of information about Andy Webster definitely being named in the manager's first Scotland squad, health permitting, is also greeted with delight by those United fans present. He also quips that "you should see my phone – I do more work for Dundee United now than when I was there". It is clear those at Tannadice still view Levein as a sounding board. And why not?

But the best moments are when Levein delves back into his own life. Knee injuries ripped apart his career in the end, but he had made it to the standard where he was feted by Liverpool, Spurs and Rangers. He remained with Hearts, however. "Wallace Mercer was the chairman – whenever someone made an offer he just added a zero," joked Levein. But however cruelly the game treated him, he was still able to say he became what he always wanted to become. "My mother tells me that from the age of three or four all I wanted to be was a professional footballer," he said.

Interestingly, she had been the driving force in the household towards him fulfilling this aim. "She was a Celtic supporter," recalls Levein. "Her favourite player was Danny McGrain. She was keen on football, my dad wasn't. But he became interested.

"(My mother] made me wear a Celtic strip. I got one for Christmas whether I liked it or not."

But Raith Rovers, he assured us, were his team. However, even they fell victim to those lost months at 15, when he grew so disillusioned with football that he simply stopped playing and watching it. "Maybe other things began to attract my attention," he smiled. But his brother, then a player at Lochore Welfare, encouraged him to come along. "And I did. I got the bug back again," said Levein. As the applause rings out after over an hour and a half of football chat, it is obvious that he remains in thrall to the game. Next stop, Warsaw.