Levein happy with director's role at Hearts

The former Cowdenbeath, Hearts, Leicester and Dundee United boss was chosen by Budge to act as a middle man between her new board and the football department after she took control last summer.

And his post allows the 50-year-old to focus on the rebuilding job so desperately needed after the collapse of former owner Vladmir Romanov's business empire nearly brought Tynecastle tumbling down without having to act as the club's mouthpiece.

That was an important aspect for the former Dark Blues boss after his bruising Hampden spell. Ten wins from 24 games in charge of the nation did little to endear him to the Tartan Army.

But after signing up to work with Budge on their "three-to-five-year" project, Levein says he is now relishing his new challenge so much he has had no thoughts of a return to full-time management.

"I'm happy doing this for now," said Levein. "I was surprised when Ann asked me to do the job and I took a little bit of time to think about it because I'd already been here as manager and I don't know if coming back ever really works.

"But this is a bigger challenge for me. I enjoy working with the young players and building up the academy and generally running the football department.

"It's tiring, it's taxing but it's interesting and exciting."

Budge controversially axed Gary Locke within days of rescuing the club from administration as she charged Neilson and Levein with the task of leading Hearts back into the Premiership.

But Levein insists every decision she makes is done with a long-term goal in mind.

He said: "Ann is a fantastic person. As someone who's been involved in football for a long time, she is a breath of fresh air.

"I've been frustrated by the back-stabbing and short-term thinking that shackles our game. You just have to look at the decisions taken by previous decision-makers at this club that have resulted in us being anchored where we are now.

"So it's refreshing to have somebody who thinks about things completely differently.

"All she ever talks about is what the club will look like in four or five years' time. That's the type of thinking football Scottish football needs.

"She is significantly better than anybody I've ever worked for."

Levein's duties mean he is the man responsible for contract negotiations, scouting and youth development, leaving Neilson to handle the day-to-day running of the first-team.

The director of football has deliberately taken a backward step from the media to allow his head coach space to grow but giving a rare interview just two days after skipper Danny Wilson hoisted the Championship trophy aloft, Levein insisted Neilson had proved to be more than capable.

"There was a lot of scepticism that Robbie wouldn't be calling the shots, so I though it was important for Robbie and important for me that he was given the autonomy to run the team," explained Levein, who also says the club are targeting a top-six finish next term.

"It worked perfectly well for me - after my Scotland days I was just happy to sit in the background and get on with some other stuff.

"I enjoyed (being Scotland boss) but I've never particularly enjoyed being in the limelight. Me having a thin skin doesn't help either.

"So this has worked really well. It's been a great experience for Robbie being the face of the club. He's making all the important decisions and is rightly the guy who faces the media.

"I've known Robbie since he was 16. I really like him as a person. That wasn't the reason he got the job but he's a guy who has hard to work his backside off to get what he has and that is one of his many endearing qualities.

"He's taken to the job like a duck to water and made some big calls. Nine times out of 10 he's got them right."