Levein wins SFA support despite Euro 2012 failure

Scottish Football Association chief executive Stewart Regan has given national team manager Craig Levein the full support of the governing body despite failing to reach the play-offs of Euro 2012.

Regan praised Levein for the impact he has made on a Scotland squad which was “in disarray” when the manager took over. Explaining that he shared Levein’s belief in the progress made since he succeeded George Burley at the end of 2009, Regan insisted there were many reasons behind Scotland’s failure to qualify for a major tournament since 1998, and that the national manager could only change so much on his own.

“I share Craig’s disappointment at not reaching the [Euro 2012] 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,” Regan said on the SFA website.

“Throughout the campaign, we have developed not just in terms of personnel but in identifying a style of play that works.

“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.

“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.”

Asked what the next step was for the SFA, Regan said they would continue to support Levein and to implement the wider changes which he believes are required to improve the game as a whole. “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.

“We have now failed to qualify for a major tournament for 14 years, so the issues run deeper than churning managers every campaign.

“We need to change the fundamentals and have a greater emphasis on talent identification and nurturing at the earliest ages possible.”