I'LL SAVE UNITED FROM THE DROP

CRAIG LEVEIN last night became Dundee United's sixth manager in four years - and immediately vowed to help them beat the dreaded drop.

Levein was unveiled as Craig Brewster's successor and faces a battle to save United from the potentially devastating effect of relegation from the SPL. In what is surely chairman Eddie Thompson's last chance to get things right, Levein insisted he had no fears about filling the Tannadice hotseat.

And the former Hearts boss promised long-suffering United fans his focus is set firmly on lifting the once-proud club out of the doldrums.

Levein said: "I fully appreciate the scale of the task before me but I am confident I can help Dundee United climb the league.

"There will be no easy, quick fix but I wouldn't have taken the job if I didn't believe I could make a difference.

"I've just walked in the door and it's obvious to me this is a group of players who are a bit down from what's been happening in recent weeks. It's my job to lift their spirits and get everyone to do their job properly.

"It would seem there's a lack of confidence and there appears to be a bit of under-achievement. But the infrastructure is sound, the budget is reasonable, there's a determination to succeed and the playing squad is better than the league position suggests."

Within minutes of signing a deal to keep him at Tannadice until May 2009 along with assistant boss Peter Houston, Levein issued a warning to any player not pulling his weight to shape up or ship out.

He said: "There has to be a strong element of collective responsibility. If they are not putting in what they should be that's a flaw in their character.

"If that's the case then maybe they're not they type of people we need at the club.

"I've watched a couple of videos of games and I've seen some stuff on Setanta and there's some good players."

Levein was hooked on a move to Tayside from Raith Rovers, where he was operating on a non-contract basis, from the moment he opened talks with Thompson on Sunday.

He said: "I just met the chairman on Sunday and felt this was the right club for me.

"He is an ambitious guy as well as a supporter and maybe that's been his Achilles heel at times.

"But I got a good feeling about the whole thing and for me that counts for an awful lot.

"I don't know what it is but it's very similar to the feeling when I took over at Hearts six years ago. Maybe the expectations in the past have been a problem so if that means going back to basics then fine."

Thompson, who pledged a substantial transfer kitty when the transfer window opens in January, was thrilled to have secured the services of the former Scotland defender whose playing career was brought to an abrupt end through injury.

The chairman said: "I've done a lot of background checks, including phoning Chris Robinson. Craig's a different character from the previous manager and he comes here with a proven track record.

"Despite having had to reduce the wage bill at Hearts, he still took them to third in the SPL which is no mean feat.

"I'm impressed by his contacts and I am sure he'll come up with one or two gems in the transfer market."

Thompson insists he had no option but to sack Brewster as the club languish at the bottom of the SPL.

He said: "I was terrified of what might happen if I had let the situation go on any longer.

"I've not had much fun watching Dundee United but I think that could be about to change under the new manager."

FANS WANT SURVIVAL PLAN

CRAIG LEVEIN has been set just one target by Dundee United fans for his first season in charge - to keep the club in the SPL.

Shug Falconer, chairman of the Federation of Dundee United Supporters' Clubs, insists his members' expectations will be realistic given the team sit bottom of the league.

He said: "All we want is for Craig to keep us in the SPL this season. Anything else would be a bonus.

"Relegation is a real threat because he has still to work with the same group of players up until the January transfer window and that squad has its limitations.

"He has a lot of good experience but time will tell if he is the right appointment, as it always does. He has signed a deal for two and half years but I'm only thinking about this season.

"I don't want to speculate any further forward than that because morale at the club is very low. Craig has a massive job to keep us in the SPL this season and if he does that it will be success in its own right."

FACTFILE

1964: Born in Aberdour.

1981: Joins Cowdenbeath from Lochore Welfare.

1983: Moves to Hearts for £30,000.

1985: Named SPFA Young Player of the Year.

1986: Part of Hearts team who lose Premier League and Scottish Cup within a week.

1990: Makes Scotland debut in famous 1-0 win over Argentina. Picked for World Cup squad and plays in 2-1 defeat of Sweden.

1994: Banned for 12 games and fined by Hearts for punching team-mate Graeme Hogg during pre-season friendly.

1995: Forced to retire by serious knee injuries after more than 400 appearances for Hearts. Wins last of 16 caps against Russia.

1997: Appointed manager of Cowdenbeath.

2000: Takes over as Hearts boss.

2003: Goes to Court of Session in bid to overturn £1000 SFA fine for comments about referee Dougie McDonald.

2004: Appointed manager of Leicester City.

2006: Sacked by Leicester after 10 games without a win. Takes over at Raith Rovers on non-contract basis. Replaces Craig Brewster as manager of Dundee United.

Taken from the Daily Record