Dundee Utd puts Peter Houston in interim charge

Published on Tuesday 22 December 2009 23:10

DUNDEE UNITED will put Peter Houston in charge following Craig Levein's appointment as new Scotland manager.

Levein is expected to be paraded by the SFA as the new national team manager today.

In what should be his last day in charge of Dundee United, Levein arrived in the city at 9:45am yesterday for a meeting with chairman Stephen Thompson, where it was expected he would finalise his departure and say his goodbyes to players and staff.

However, a delay over contractual issues and, therefore, agreement to pay the 250,000 compensation held up proceedings.

As a result, both Levein and United spent the afternoon in limbo – with the manager even overseeing the first-team's training on the Tannadice pitch before watching a bounce game against Airdrie United.

The Tannadice players left just after lunchtime without having bid farewell to their manager, so it is now likely he will return on Thursday to clear his desk.

Thompson's thoughts will now turn towards finding a replacement, with Houston set to be handed the reins in the interim.

Houston, Levein's right-hand man for the past nine years, has emerged as the clear players' choice and the fact he won't be joining Levein at Scotland in a full-time capacity means he is a candidate for the top job.

Along with coach Gary Kirk, he signed a new deal until 2012 only last year so enhancing their roles would provide a seamless transition. Houston will take charge of the team for the Boxing Day clash with Kilmarnock and is likely to be left in control for the foreseeable future.

Thompson revealed: "Peter will take charge as caretaker until further notice. We will consider our position. We're fourth in the league at the moment and have a strong team, so there's no need to jump into anything."

Raith Rovers manager John McGlynn has caught the eye on the back of his work at Stark's Park and he would be a candidate down the line if Houston is not given the job long-term. Former United player Michael O'Neill, currently with Shamrock Rovers in Ireland, is another name in the frame.

Kilmarnock's Jim Jefferies and Hamilton's Billy Reid are viewed as having the necessary experience but the issue of compensation from their current clubs could be prohibitive. The same would apply to St Johnstone's Derek McInnes, whose candidature has already been headed off by Perth chairman Geoff Brown's insistence that he would demand top dollar for his manager.

Out-of-work Jimmy Calderwood is understood to be a non-runner, while club legend Paul Sturrock is also out of the equation despite expressing an interest over the weekend. Other managers without a club, such as John Robertson, Mixu Paatelainen, Craig Brown and John Collins, are likely to be discussed.