Jambos .... Levein's away to Leicester

[Polwarth]

Taken from http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk

FOOTBALL: JAMBOS PLAYERS RECKON OLD BOSS IS HEADING FOR TOP Oct 30 2004

By John Docherty

HEARTS star Paul Hartley is convinced Craig Levein is destined for the Premiership.

The former Jambos manager may be taking over a team sitting mid-table in the English Championship but Hartley is sure he will guide Leicester back to the top flight.

As the midfielder and his team-mates prepared for life without the popular boss, he said: 'There is no doubt Craig will end up in the Premiership.

'It might not happen this season but he will definitely get Leicester there.

'Obviously, it's disappointing to lose him. Everyone knows he has done a tremendous job here but I think he had to take this opportunity. Chances like this don't come along often.

'The gaffer has helped me in my career, he has developed me as a player and I will always be grateful .

'But good luck to him,I hope he goes on to even better things.'

The players are now waiting to hear who will replace Levein, with former Jambos hero John Robertson the leading contender.

Hartley said: 'The manager has left a good set of players here and whoever comes in will hopefully do a good job. We've got Dundee at Tynecastle on Saturday and I don't think it will be difficult for the players to concentrate on the game.

'We'll have more time to reflect on the gaffer's departure next week.'

Skipper Steven Pressley admitted the Tynecastle dressing room had been dreading the day Levein would be lured away.

He said: 'Every player feared this day would come. But you sometimes lose managers because of failure, not always because of success.

'One consolation is we have lost Craig because of his success. He can be proud of that and so can the players.

'He spoke to us this morning and there was a great disappointment. He wasn't just respected as a manager, he was respected as a man.

'He was a great man-manager for Hearts and he will be sorely missed.

'Results and performances have given him this chance and I think it was inevitable a big job in England would come his way one day.

'It's sad for us that day has come now, even though we are delighted for him.'

Pressley reckons whoever comes in as the new manager will be taking over at a club which is richer for the legacy left by Levein and his assistant Peter Houston.

The Tynecastle captain said: 'There's obviously a great deal of uncertainty at the club right now.There is going to be a new owner, the manager has left and a lot of players are out of contract.

'But this is a time where we need to pull together.We have shown in the past we have a lot of strong characters and it's time to show it again.

'Craig has put fantastic foundations in place for whoever comes in to take this club forward. We have a great youth policy and all the players the manager has signed are very young and hungry.' Defender Robbie Neilson, who has been with Hearts since 1996, insists it's not all doom and gloom .

He said: 'We still have a lot to look forward to, including the UEFA Cup. We've got Schalke at Murrayfield on Thursday and this is a massive part of the season for us.

'The boys are determined. A lot of players are out of contract at the end of the season and want to show what they can do.

'Craig has been great for me and I've played some of my best football under him. It has been a good experience.'