Press blamed over sacking of Scotland soccer boss Craig Levein
Scotland midfielder Charlie Adam blamed the press yesterday for the sacking of Craig Levein as national team boss.
Adam gave his reaction via Twitter before the official announcement from the Scottish Football Association (SFA) that it had decided Levein should go after just three wins from 12 competitive matches. Scotland are also bottom of their 2014 World Cup qualifying group.
Stoke City playmaker Adam tweeted: "On my way back from training to hear Craig Levein has gone. Unbelievable. Can't believe the Scottish papers got what they wanted."
However, several former Scotland players said Levein's record and the position of the team meant his sacking was all but inevitable.
Kevin Gallacher, a member of the last Scotland squad to play in a major finals, in France 1998, told the BBC: "Craig has tried to groom the set-up from top to bottom and get younger players coming into the side, very similar to what Berti Vogts did and failed.
"But unfortunately, on grass, the players haven't performed for Craig."
Gallacher urged the SFA to recall veteran former Scotland boss Walter Smith for another stint in the hotseat.
"He's experienced and done it before - bring him in and give him another shot.
"I know people are always for change and not for going backwards. Would Walter go backwards? I don't know."
Former Celtic and Scotland winger Davie Provan also supported another Scotland stint for Smith.
"I think it was absolutely inevitable that Craig would leave," Provan told Sky Sports.
"The thing that beggars belief is the amount of time the SFA took to make the decision. If it was down to me I would certainly be approaching Walter Smith. He ticks all the boxes.
"It's important not to go for someone who uses the national team job as a stepping stone to getting back to club football.
"That has happened in the past and we need someone in for the long haul.
"I don't know if Walter Smith would take the job again. If there's a problem it might be that a section of Scotland supporters accuse him of being a deserter for going back to Rangers, but that happens in football."
