Levein close to Scotland job after furious United bow to demands

Craig Levein has become embroiled in a club versus country row as the Dundee United manager edges closer to becoming the new national boss.

Yesterday the club reluctantly granted Levein permission to speak to the SFA about the position vacated by George Burley, who was sacked last month following a poor World Cup qualifying campaign.

"I have a contract that says I can speak to people if there's an interest," he said. But United chairman Stephen Thompson was furious with the behaviour of the SFA and the manner in which news of the approach broke.

"I am very unhappy at the way the SFA have dealt with this," he said. "I had told Gordon that I wanted 24 hours to consider the request. The local press did not run the story, so where did it come from?".