Craig Levein in Dundee United duality as he takes board to task while craving Tannadice return

On one hand, Craig Levein has fond memories of he describes as a “special” four years as Dundee United boss. On the other, going back doesn't always work out and it's a different United who are chasing him now.

The former Hearts and Scotland boss has been lined up for a shock return to Tannadice after the Tangerines pulled the trigger on Liam Fox following Saturday’s disastrous 4-0 collapse away to Ross County. The heavy Highland defeat leaves United rooted to the bottom of the Scottish Premiership table, and they are now looking for their third manager of the season in a bid to beat the drop and a return to the Championship three years after they finally made it back up.

Levein is said to be the No. 1 choice to replace Fox, who worked under him as a coach while Levein was director of football at Tynecastle. Chairman Mark Ogren has returned to America after jetting in for last week’s AGM, while sporting director Tony Asghar sets about appointing a new man in the dugout.

Asghar has come under fire himself this season with fans taking aim at the lack of recruitment done in January. Appointing Levein, who is still held in high regard by the Tannadice faithful after the job he did there, may ease the heat for now.

It's been 17 years since Levein first worked on Tayside. In January 2008, he combined his role as manager with that of director of football, revamping the club’s youth structure and holding heavy influence over all football matters. It worked, as United became regulars in the top half of the table and reached the 2008 Scottish League Cup Final, which they lost on penalties to Rangers. United lifted the Scottish Cup in 2010 after Levein left for Scotland, but he’d laid the foundations for Peter Houston’s success.

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