Levein Sidelines the Largs Mafia

Craig Levein has wasted little time in blowing away some of the cobwebs festooning the SFA hierarchy. His appointment of Mike Oliver as his National Scout bucks the trend of keeping SFA posts within the ‘Largs Mafia’, the somewhat incestuous brotherhood of SFA managers and coaches.

Oliver is not exactly a household name. Seven years senior to Levein, they played together in the heart of the defence for Cowdenbeath when Levein first played senior football. Oliver already had plenty experience from his time with Falkirk. His career eventually took him to Queen of the South (twice), Stenhousemuir, Albion Rovers (twice), Stranraer, East Stirlingshire and Arbroath. He managed Albion Rovers and was Assistant at Ayr, as well as General Manager of Clydebank. More recently he was a scout for Birmingham City and Wigan Athletic, identifying and watching transfer targets across the globe. Levein had him working in a similar role for Dundee United over the past couple of years. His new full-time role will include identifying players for Scotland squads, analysing opponents and watching key club games around the world involving players who Scotland will come up against. He will be awaiting the draw for the 2012 European Championship with keen interest to see where he will be heading next.

Previously such work has been reserved for the supposed ‘great and good’ of Scottish football. George Burley and Walter Smith employed men like Alex Smith, Craig Brown and Archie Knox on these tasks – all members of the shadowy secret society that grew up at Largs in the 1980s.

They called themselves the ‘Dexys Midnight Runners’. They produced minutes of meetings held late at night at the National Recreation Centre, written in coded language. Members were known as ‘Brothers’. Key functions included ensuring an adequate supply of ‘solpies’ for the duration of their stay.

Out of that group of then young(ish) managers and coaches came a generation who have dominated Scottish football coaching for 25 years. As well as the two Smiths, Walter and Alex Smith, Craig Brown and Archie Knox, there were men like Jocky Scott, Jimmy Bone, Alex Miller and Alex Ferguson. Their achievements have been considerable and their service to the Scottish game unquestionable. But perhaps the time has come for change?

The recycling of the same old names and faces has become a feature of Scottish football. In Jimmy Bone’s case it might be easier to list the clubs he’s not been associated with than those where he has worked. Alex Smith, aged 70, is the Director of Football at Falkirk, Craig Brown, not far off three score years and ten himself, is the new man in charge at Motherwell. Jocky Scott is enjoying an Indian Summer in charge at Dundee.

Back in the 80s these were the innovators in Scottish football. The days of the suited managers overseeing training from afar were gone. Even the early tracksuit bosses like Jock Wallace were being viewed as dinosaurs. The SFA’s coaching system was a model for others to follow. But it might be rue to suggest that it became a self-perpetuating group? The very people who were initially lauded for their modern methods and approaches became a blockage in the system that prevented the development of new coaching talent.

The appointment of Craig Levein may be the ‘Dyno Rod’ for that blockage. He’s an intelligent and self-reliant man. He speaks his mind and doesn’t bother if others agree with him. The SFA themselves have been on the receiving end of his vitriol in the past. He will not surround himself with the usual suspects. His team will be his and his alone. Good on him, and good luck to him.