Blog:Craig Levein offers fresh start to Barry Ferguson, Allan McGregor and Kris Boyd
Craig Levein’s introduction Mbt shoes as the new Scotland manager saw an olive branch extended to Barry Ferguson, Allan McGregor and Kris Boyd.
As he finally met with the media at Hampden Park last night, the 45-year-old Levein insisted none of those three players would be discounted from his squads for future international games.
Ferguson and McGregor, then team-mates at Rangers, were effectively banned by the SFA from future Scotland duty after the infamous “Boozegate” scandal during the country’s flawed World Cup qualifying campaign. Boyd, upset at his lack of opportunity under the previous Scotland manager, George Burley, ghd straighteners said he simply did not wish to be considered for selection.
The trio may be back in dark blue quicker than some had anticipated. Levein, who has signed an initial contract to cover the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign, stressed that he has no issues with the players in question. Pertinently, Ferguson had used a television interview 24 hours earlier to leave the door open for a Scotland return.
“For me, this is a new start,” Levein said. “I have met Kris Boyd on numerous occasions, I think he is a decent guy. The same for Barry Ferguson, same for Allan McGregor. I have never had one problem with any of those guys — not one — so why would I not want any of those players in the Scotland squad?
“My remit is to try to qualify next time around Mbt sale; I will not be ruling out any player. Whether or not they will turn up is another matter but I will pick my best players.”
Either way, it will be the decision of Levein, and not his employers, who features in squad lists. “I would not have it any other way,” the Fifer said. “It has to be me who stands and falls by the decisions made.”
Levein expressed his delight at his move into the international fold after agreeing to depart Dundee United. “I really am thrilled to be here,” he said. “When I first heard of the SFA’s interest in me, I was obviously very excited. It is difficult for me to express just how good I feel. I am a Scotsman who has followed the national team for most of my life discount Mbt shoes.”
It remains to be seen just how radical an overhaul of the SFA’s internal football structures Levein plans to oversee. Gordon Smith, the association’s chief executive, would only admit that the new manager will have “an input” in such matters.
Levein, though, believes off-field business will occupy his time. “One of the main things I wanted to chat to the SFA about was getting into behind-the-scenes,” he added. “That will give me a focus at times when there are not other things to do.”
Levein will employ a full-time scout rather than a coaching assistant to cover matches and players across Europe, an issue which will drive up the coach’s cost to the SFA. He is already understood to have agreed a salary in excess of Burley’s reputed £300,000 a year, with a £250,000 compensation payment also due to United ghd hair straighteners.
The new manager’s initial impact relates to the cancellation of a proposed, two-week jaunt to Australia and New Zealand for the Scotland team in late May. Levein will, indeed, look to cut back the number of friendly matches Scotland take part in.
Tags: Allan McGregor, Barry Ferguson, Craig Levein, Kris Boyd
