John Hughes extends an invite to new Scotland manager

Published on Tuesday 22 December 2009 23:10

HIBERNIAN manager John Hughes is confident Craig Levein is the right choice to take charge of Scotland, and believes every manager in the SPL should welcome him at training.

Responding to suggestions that Levein could find it difficult to adapt to the slower pace of international management and its lack of day-to-day involvement, Hughes said the obvious answer was for Levein to seek that involvement with the country's leading clubs. If the Hibs board of directors were agreeable, he stated, that would be beneficial for players as well as for the national coach.

"I've noticed bits and pieces where Craig has maybe touched on the boredom of it, but, for me, I'd be in there at clubs, watching the players first hand, asking to get on the training pitch and trying to get involved," Hughes said at Hibs' training ground yesterday. "I'm quite sure players would like a different voice as well. I'm not sure every club would be open to that, but certainly if he phoned me up and asked if he could come in and join in the training sessions I would say 'yes', and not just for a day.

"He could come in for a week, because I would be picking his brains as well.

"I would be open to that and if a lot of other managers were open to that it could take away the boredom, and I'm not just talking about Scotland, but the whole world. Go and see how Sir Alex Ferguson works, and Jose Mourinho works and all these guys. I would make sure that was part of my itinerary."

Hughes, who played against Levein as well as crossing swords with him as a manager, said the Dundee United manager was the ideal appointee to succeed George Burley. "I'm delighted for Craig and he gets my full backing.

"He's a guy I've got great respect for. I played against him many times as a player and know what he was all about, and his CV speaks for itself.

"I've got a lot of time for Craig and I think he'll do a good job. One thing I'll say is that we have to bring our expectations down and play like an underdog.

"Scotland is at its best when we're underdogs and if we can play with our heart on our sleeve and the fire in our belly, playing as underdogs in every match and being prepared to put the shift in for anything we get, that's when we're at our best.

"If Craig can get that then that's our recipe for winning football matches. I've been asked the question once or twice if the job is a poisoned chalice and I disagree with that. I felt George was just getting it right and I think the only way for Scotland is up, and that there's a lot of good things happening in Scotland.

"I wish him all the best, I really do. They've certainly got the right man for the job and I wish him every success.

"He'll be missed at Dundee United, that's for sure, because everybody puts their own stamp on their club. But good professionals self-govern and I think we're getting there.

"These guys up at Dundee United will still have the desire and application to go and win every football match, and go and see where it takes them."

Hughes also believes that Levein could be set to benefit from the next generation of young Scottish players who are emerging.

"It's good for Craig Levein to have young players coming through at a few clubs," said Hughes.

"If you look at our opponents on Sunday, Rangers, there's the boy (Danny] Wilson, who is a right good left centre-half and has been in there, there's young (John] Fleck and (Steven] Smith at left-back.

"There's a lot of good young talent. A lot of the time it's forced upon us to produce young kids because of financial restraints on us. If Craig gets the benefit of that, then fantastic."

Meanwhile, former Scotland striker Kevin Gallacher

has watched Levein turn around the fortunes of his ex-club Dundee United and believes he could now do the same for Scotland.

The 43-year-old added: "The good thing is it is a young Scottish manager getting a chance. Everybody has seemed to want Craig, they've all been shouting for him. I hope he is given time to do the job, but international level is very critical and he'll have to get up and running right away.

"He is a very professional man. I spoke to him a couple of times when he was down here at Leicester City where I thought he did a decent job.

"Back in Scotland at United, everybody speaks very highly of him, the players and the management.

"He's done it a club level, on a day-to-day basis, but it's a difference going and watching games all the time and trying to get the best out of a squad only a few times a year. Only time will tell, but I'm behind him."