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Scottish Premier League Update

Ali Hannah on the latest from the Scottish Premier League, January 2010

Celtic | Rangers | Scotland

Scotland

The strongest endorsement of Craig Levein's appointment as the new Scotland manager came from a source as unlikely as it was noteworthy.

Barry Ferguson, banished into international exile following the Boozegate in April last year, credited the SFA for making a "great" move for Levein, although it remains unclear as to whether he will return to the international fold. At 31 and now enjoying a decent run of form with Birmingham, Ferguson may opt instead to keep his energies on domestic matters.

The 45-year-old Levein has been persuaded to swap his role at Dundee United for the task of attempting to lead Scotland to their first major finals since 1998. It is understood Levein had offered to fill the vacancy created by George Burley's sacking to the SFA chief executive, Gordon Smith. Interestingly, the two men have a history of public spatting, although it has not stood in the way of a popular appointment.

"It is a great appointment," said Ferguson, a former Scotland captain who has 45 caps. "He is a manager whom I have a lot of respect for. I have met him a few times and he is a good guy; Scotland needed someone like Craig Levein to come in and shake the whole place up."

"It's a big loss for Dundee United," Ferguson added. "He's done a great job up there."

On the subject of an international return, the Birmingham City midfielder said: "It is something I would really need to consider. Never once did I quit Scotland. It was Scotland who told me I was finished."

Over to Levein, then, who was the first and only choice of the SFA's executive board. They made their move last Wednesday afternoon, when the approach was made to the Tannadice club. Stephen Thompson, the United chairman, offered a rare discontented voice in the affair by claiming his club has been treated "shabbily" by the SFA with regard to compensation for the manager.

Levein's influence at United, where he has spent the last three years, has been almost universally acclaimed. The club captain, Lee Wilkie, admitted regret that the manager has left but stressed Levein will have no problems within his new surroundings.

"He is such a good manager that I fully expect him to do well for Scotland," said Wilkie. "It is bad news for us but great news for the country because he can turn things around.

"I understand why they [the SFA] have gone for him because he is one of the best around, anywhere. He is great tactically and knows how to get the best out of players."

Levein's promising playing career was blighted and ultimately cut short by a serious knee injury. At the time of his retirement, words at an emotional press conference offered a hint of things to come.

"My football and all of my aspirations have been snatched away from me," Levein said in 1997. "If I can't do it on the pitch, I hope to go into coaching." Twelve years on, a nation expects.

Rangers

Rangers and Scotland striker Kenny Miller has welcomed the imminent return to the international fold of Kris Boyd, Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor.

Craig Levein, new Scotland manager, has made it clear he will look to select the trio for future squads. Ferguson and McGregor were put into international exile by the Scottish Football Association in April following the infamous Boozegate and gesture scandal while Boyd said he would not represent the Scots while the previous manager George Burley remained in office.

Boyd and McGregor have stated that they would gladly accept a recall.

Miller said: "As a nation we cannot afford to leave out players of the quality of Allan McGregor, Barry Ferguson and Kris Boyd. I hope the Scotland fans welcome them back.

"Look at Barry, he has played for his country for the last 10 years. He's a top-quality player and I think for what he has done for Rangers and Scotland in the past the fans will realise he has been punished enough. He missed out on big games.

"I would have much rather had those three names in the team-sheet than sitting watching at home."

On the direct case of Ferguson and McGregor, the striker added: "We all understand what happened had to happen really. They are big boys and they accepted it - but it was to the detriment of the team."

It remains to be seen what reaction the players will receive from the Scotland support, who in public at least have routinely made their unhappiness at the respective situations clear. Miller knows all about dousing dissenting voices having re signed for Rangers in 2008, a year after leaving Celtic.

"I worked hard to win over the fans," he said. "It doesn't matter who I'm playing for, I give everything I've got to try and win games. I'm sure it'll be the same for the boys who come back.

"Barry's first job is to show the fans he wants to play and keep doing what he's done for the past 10 years - playing well, controlling games and being a leader. That's what Barry was for us and we missed that.

"If he comes back and does that then I'm sure the fans will realise we've missed him and he'll make the team better."

Boyd expanded on his U turn, insisting he only refused to play again under Burley amid frustration at a consistent lack of match action.

"I look forward to going back if I'm picked," he said. "All I can do is make myself available for selection. If I'm picked, I'm picked. If I'm not I'll keep working hard and hope I can get picked for the next squad.

"I said at the time I made the decision that I felt I was going nowhere and something had to give. I feel I have come back and improved as a player and I am ready to give Scotland more than what I gave them before."

The former Kilmarnock player hopes those in the stands offer their backing when he returns in national colours, if seemingly unconcerned whether or not that will actually be the case. "It's up to them," he said.

"The supporters have been good to me in the past and hopefully will be good to me in the future. I can't say everybody will like me or everybody will dislike me; you have to be your own man and make your own decision.

Boyd's sentiments were echoed by his Ibrox team-mate Allan McGregor, who had been hit with a lifetime ban from representing his country in the wake of the Boozegate affair. McGregor was punished along with the former Scotland and Rangers captain Barry Ferguson after the pair were caught flicking V-signs at photographers during April's World Cup qualifier against Iceland. That came days after they embarked on an early-hours drinking session following a defeat in the Netherlands.

The goalkeeper said: "If Craig Levein wants me to play a part in his plans then he won't have to ask me twice. The answer is yes please.

"Nine months ago I was absolutely devastated when I was told my Scotland career was over. Yes, I made some stupid mistakes and I apologise for them. But to be told I wouldn't play for my country again hit me harder than anyone can imagine. Obviously, things have changed now that the new manager is in charge and if he wants me - even just as a back-up to other keepers in the squad - he can count me in.

I don't care if he wants to play me or not - I'm just desperate for the chance to get back in and maybe wear that jersey again one day."

The SFA are poised for a series of meetings to explore the options for a rethink over the issue of a winter shutdown after the fixture chaos caused by the Arctic freeze.

SFA chief executive Gordon Smith has never made any secret of his belief that more summer-orientated football and fewer winter games is what he sees as the way forward.

And Smith is hoping to convene a meeting with the various organisations that run the Scottish game over the next few weeks to try and make the case for a four-week shutdown in January. He will argue that his push for a winter break is not a knee-jerk reaction to the current conditions, but rather the fact that he has been pushing for such a shutdown for the last decade.

The SFA have refused to make any official comment on the imminent meeting, but Smith hopes to persuade Neil Doncaster, the chief executive of the SPL, of the benefits such a closure would bring. Doncaster has so far always maintained the need for an uninterupted season, principally on the grounds of fixture congestion should there be no January football.

An SFA source said: "Most people know that Gordon Smith prefers more summer-orientated football, and in recent weeks we have just seen more evidence of why.

"A meeting will take place soon when Gordon and others can put their heads together to look at the situation afresh.

"I think what Gordon wants is a consensus on the matter, and not any one person or group trying to impose their wish."

The move will come as the Scottish game is suffering its worst run of call-offs in any given season.

This term alone there have been 96 games called off, most of which have come from the SFL, although eight games have been called off in the SPL.

The current list of postponements could have a serious impact on the scheduled SPL games for this month, although the football authorities have vowed to work together as they attempt to work their way through the backlog.

ll matches rescheduled for next midweek are already under threat and an SFA spokeswoman admitted they will work closely with the SPL to decide the best way of planning as the freeze looks set to continue.

"We need to work alongside the SPL to decide when the fixtures go ahead.

"Scottish Cup rules state that if the fixtures don’t go ahead on Tuesday, attempts must be made to get the games played on the Monday and Wednesday of each week afterwards until they go ahead.

"We need to work with the SPL to try to fit in these fixtures as best as possible. If it gets to the stage we are weeks down the line and the games haven’t been played we will liaise closely with the SPL to find a solution."

SPL spokesman Greg Mailer believes the congestion has been eased by the fact no Scottish clubs are playing in Europe.

He has also insisted that all attempts will be made to ensure that clubs are not looking at the prospect of playing four games in eight days.

"We are just along the corridor from the SFA and have been talking with them about issues we may have with games," he said.

"We will work with the SFA and clubs to put the best arrangements in place. It would be a last resort to ask clubs to play four games in eight days, but it has happened. However, it is too early in the season to be doing that as we have alternatives."

Ali Hannah

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