A "costly and bitter legal battle" is underway following the decision of former national Manager Craig Levein to issue a writ against the Scottish FA, according to the SCOTSMAN. Levein has "accused his ex-employers of failing to honour his contract," while the SFA has responded by saying that it offered "to fulfill the deal in its entirety when it relieved him of his duties early last month." It is understood that "some legal sources urged Levein to begin action sooner but that he delayed in the hope of coming to an agreement which, if not exactly amicable, would at least avoid court action." He believed that "he had a good working relationship" with SFA CEO Stewart Regan and is understood to have found it "hard to comprehend why Regan could not behave in what he, Levein, regarded as a decent manner." Besides contradicting reports which stated that Levein would continue to receive his SFA salary, the former Hearts and Dundee United manager's advisers "are also unconvinced by the SFA's suggestion that he would remain an employee." Their argument is that, as his job was that of national coach, when he was removed from that post "he was effectively left in limbo, with no attempt being made to offer him meaningful work elsewhere in the organisation." The statement on the SFA's website "offered a different interpretation of several of the issues referred to by Levein's representatives." (SCOTSMAN, 12/20).
