Levein on brink of Scotland job – report

Craig Levein could be appointed manager of the Scotland national side on Tuesday, according to British media reports.

Sky Sports News reported Monday that Dundee United boss Levein had held “positive talks” with senior Scottish Football Association (SFA) officials aimed at ironing out his remaining contractual concerns.

Levein, 45, has been the favourite to succeed George Burley since Rangers manager Walter Smith ruled himself out of a return to the Scotland job, and he indicated that he is seriously considering a switch to international football.

The United boss confirmed last week he would be holding talks with the SFA, saying: “The one thing I can say is I’m 100 percent interested in being Scotland manager.

“If the SFA ask for permission to speak to you, the last thing I’m going to say is ‘No’.”

Burley was dismissed last month after a 3-0 friendly defeat by Wales which followed Scotland’s failure to reach the play-offs for a place in next year’s World Cup finals in South Africa.

Levein, a former Scotland international whose playing career was ended prematurely by injury, made his reputation as a manager with a successful 2000-04 spell in charge of Hearts.

A brief, unhappy stint as manager of English Championship side Leicester followed and Levein returned to management in Scotland with Raith Rovers before taking over at Dundee United in October 2006.

He guided the Tangerines to fifth place in the Scottish Premier League (SPL) last season.

They currently sit fourth in the table, despite being deprived, through injury, of last season’s top scorer Francisco Sandaza and captain Lee Wilkie.

The SFA has indicated that it wants to have the new manager in place before the draw for the qualifying tournament for Euro 2012 is made on February 7.