World Cup

Kevin Gallacher: 'Craig Levein deserves more respect'

By Subhankar Mondal, Reporter | 05 November 2012

Kevin Gallacher says that Craig Levein's willingness to give chances to young players in the Scottish national team did not get the recognition it should have.

Former Scotland striker Kevin Gallacher believes that Craig Levein did not receive the recognition that he deserved as the coach.

The 48-year-old was sacked by the Scottish Football Association on Monday because of the national team's "disappointing results" in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers.

"It is a result-orientated game, no-one has looked at the good side of what he has done at national team and below," Gallacher told the BBC.

"The Scottish Football Association were just looking at results, which is what you want to do if you want to get to the big competitions. What the fans see are results on the grass, and the results haven't been good.

"You have to qualify for major competitions because that's where the finance comes in. We've not qualified since 1998, so there's not been much major money going into the SFA to help the grassroots side of it."

Gallacher pointed out that Levein had tried to promote young players in the first team.

"Craig has tried to groom the setup from top to bottom and get younger players coming into the side, very similar to what Berti Vogts did and failed, said the 45-year-old.

"But unfortunately on grass the players haven't performed for Craig."

Scotland are currently at the bottom of Group A with just two points from four matches.