When Levein says that he wants to make sure that he is the right man for the job I suspect he really means the the SFA will need to structure matters and his duties just as he wants. I don't now the personalities but any views? Possible stumbling blocks? Would Levein take to the PR aspect of the job that the SFA have talked of before?

I think the personality issue is a complex one.

Levein (and Dundee Utd) have had issues with the SFA and the running iof the game. In particular they have had a feeling of West coast (or even specifically Rangers bias). They have had some shocking decisions go against them and complianed very loudly. Levein and Smith also have issues as he released his son from United books. Levein as a pundit also criticised the scheduling of Scotlands WC qualifiers which irked the powers that be.

The SFA hierarchy is very staid and run entirely by committee, hence the shortlisting and interview process. Smith was an agent and then a pundit on Radio Scotland before being appointed but he is answerable to a whole host of committeemen who ultimately hold power in the Scottish game. There are also people in charge of each level of the game (U21 and youths) and that could be another sticking point as these guys also have their champions in the committes.

If I had to call it at the moment, I'd say he'd take it. McCoist is set for Rangers next and I can't see him taking over at Celtic, apparently he turned down Aberdeen in the summer so the Scotland job is his only option imho before he returns to England. Success with Scotland will give him an EPL job.
The rest of the shortlist will only apply if Levein turns it down.

FFS don't worry about that Alex. I'll be taking plenty of your advice in these.

I'd say thanks to the other lads contributing in here too. Makes a change to the usual cack on the main forum.

Interestingly tonight Dundee United have mentioned £500,000 compo for Levein and the Arab messageborad seems resigned to him leaving. I'd say we'll have a yeah or nay next week on Levein.

Might have to have a ramp on a few others first though :D

Gary McAllister anyone ;)

Can the SFA afford 500k compo?

They could probably employ Hiddinck for a month for that. Or Ricky Sbragia for the rest of eternity

Would suit my book Crawford

Bit in the local paper Geoff Brown warning off United from making a move for Derek McIness.

Ralf Rangnick has not been added yet. An astonishing oversight

A nicely misleading headline: 'Scottish FA to offer Levein job'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/8424274.stm

Be good to see that repeated on SSN. The compensation is apparently a lot less than had been mentioned too.

Some decent odds about if he turns it down.

Be glad when this is done. Not a great appointment but in betting terms pretty thin pickings.

Been thin pickings on managers in general. When was the last decent one? Chelsea?

I suspect that we will get a sack race market as soon as Pompey are relegated.

Not a done deal according to Radio Scotland.

Think there is a big sticking point re compensation.

Levein did not sound happy. SFA dragging their heels acording to Jim Spence. He says a source at United said he believed the deal could yet fall apart.

The reporter still thinks the deal will go through, though.

Over a grand being laid again at 1.06

Dundee United manager Craig Levein has insisted it is not a done deal whether he will be Scotland boss, but admits the situation will be a lot clearer within hours.

The 45-year-old met with representatives from the Scottish Football Association on Monday night as the governing body searches for George Burley's replacement.

While some believe Levein is all set to take on the new role, the United boss insisted no deal has been done and dusted and he must concentrate on his club duties.

Levein told Sky Sports News: "Well I had a meeting last night with representatives of the SFA which went reasonably well but it was only a meeting that lasted about an hour.

"And since then discussions have been ongoing but I must stress that there hasn't been any deal done and we had a reserve game today and I am preparing the players for Kilmarnock on Saturday."

Asked if it was a fait accompli, he replied: "No it's not, as I say the meeting was fairly positive last night and there are ongoing discussions but I'm the Dundee United manager and I get paid by Dundee United at this moment in time and all my energies therefore should be put towards playing Kilmarnock on Saturday."

He added he had been in football for a long time and he had seen just about every type of scenario there was so the important thing was to focus on his existing job.

"I don't want my mind to stray to other things," said Levein, adding within 24 hours the situation could be done and dusted either way.

"Either (it will) be on or off, one of the two I think," he said. "So as far as I'm concerned as I said to you that the important thing for me is to make sure that I'm preparing properly.

"I would hate to think that I'd let my focus drift off what needs to be done here so I need to make sure that I'm preparing properly for Saturday."

He would not be drawn on what had been discussed in the meeting with the SFA officials, nor the contractual situation.

Asked if he was comfortable that his side of things had been agreed and whether it was simply a case of compensation, he replied: "Do you know something, I haven't really got into that side of things, that's why I employ somebody to take care of that for me.

"So I just let them get on with that and we'll find out in the next few hours or 24 hours or whatever it is, whether it's something that both the SFA and myself can push ahead, but we'll just have to see."

Anything new this morning chaps?

Deal not done yet, compo not paid. (SSN)

As a 1.01 layer, I do hope so :-)

COnfirmed by the SFA

http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_fa_news.cfm?page=128&newsCategoryID=6&newsID=5393