Levein - ''Why I had to leave''

[Scow]

Levein sees Leicester job as route into Premiership big time

CRAIG LEVEIN today revealed it is the lure of the English Premiership which has forced him to quit Hearts for Leicester City.

The Jambos boss is set to complete his move to the Walkers Stadium later today and in an exclusive interview with the Evening News spoke of his dream of guiding the Foxes into one of the world’s top leagues.

City made an official approach to Hearts late yesterday afternoon and Levein conceded there was no real decision to make once he knew of their interest.

Levein met with prospective new Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov in an Edinburgh hotel last night but admitted he had already made his mind up that his future lay outwith Tynecastle.

"I want to go to Leicester and the reason is plain and simple - I want the opportunity to manage in the Premiership in England," he said.

"Going to a club like Leicester is the only way I can see that happening. I am not going to go straight to the Premiership from Hearts and would have to be at one of the Old Firm clubs for that to maybe happen.

"But with Alex (McLeish) and Martin (O’Neill) doing well there at the moment that is not likely to happen.

"So the only way I can see me achieving my goal is to move to a good club in the English first division, do a good job and get promotion."

"People may have their own ideas as to why I am leaving but there is only the one reason and it has nothing to do whatsoever with Vladimir Romanov coming into the club.

"I could have used my meeting with him last night to try to get more money out the club but money is not the issue here, the opportunity is the issue.

"People will ask if Leicester City is a bigger club than Hearts but again that is not an issue. Had Hearts been playing in England then it may have been a different scenario.

"You get the best out of people when they have goals and I am no different to anyone else.

"There are places I want to get to in my career and I would like to think that I will leave Hearts with the best wishes of everyone at the club.

"I have done my very best for Hearts in nearly four years.

"Financially it is on a much better footing, there is a much younger squad but as talented a squad as any since the Scottish Cup-winning side and the wage bill is probably half of what it was when I first came through the door.

"I hope people won’t look at this at me running out on the club.

"There is an argument to be made that I could have walked out at some stage in the past but I stuck with it and kept trying to progress the club."

Levein was due to say an emotional farewell to the players at training at Heriot-Watt today before heading to the East Midlands, where Peter Houston will be his No.2.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Hearts and will be extremely sorry to leave, in fact it will be gut wrenching as there are so many good things about working at the club," said Levein.

"The biggest thing about all of this is leaving the players. I’m really cut up about that.

"Ninety-five per cent of this opportunity has arisen because of the immense commitment and effort which the players have all put in since I came to the club. I will be eternally grateful for their willingness to buy in to what I wanted to do."

He added: "If I was to turn down this opportunity who knows when a similar chance may arise?

"The timing is these things is never right and missing out on the UEFA Cup campaign is a massive blow and I am gutted about that. But when is the right time?

"My heart has been set on leaving Tynecastle for about a year and while I have looked at a number of opportunities at going to England, none have been as appealing as this.

"When your heart is set on something and a chance comes up which ticks all the boxes there is really no choice left."

Link - Scotsman

Sounds good - Let's hope he continues in the same vein.

[Steven]

Levein's comments also speaks volumes about the state of the SPL.

[Bluefoxtim]

Scowy you git i was just about to post this thread!