Levein is likely to want to speak to the Scottish Football Association
By Chick Young and Jim Spence
Dundee United will seek at least half a million pounds in compensation if Craig Levein is offered the Scotland job.
Dundee United manager Levein will speak to the Scottish FA about the vacancy at Hampden, and admits he wants to coach the national side at some point.
The SFA insists Levein is one of several managers approached about the vacancy at Hampden.
Levein said: "I 100% want to be the Scottish manager. Whether that's now or later, I couldn't tell you for sure."
"And one of the reasons I want to have a chat with the SFA representative is to find out just exactly what the job would entail.
"It's the Scottish national job. If someone comes along and asks if you're interested in having a chat then you'd need to be off your head and I think it would be discourteous to say I'm not interested in having a chat."
The local press did not run the story, so where did it come from?
Dundee United chairman Stephen Thompson
Levein remains to be convinced that the Scotland job is the correct career move at this stage and could require a remit to not only lead the national team but revamp football throughout the country before being persuaded to leave Tannadice.
United chairman Stephen Thompson said he had reluctantly given permission for Levein to talk to the SFA, was determined to keep his manager and has been left furious that the news has leaked to the media.
"I am very unhappy at the way the SFA have dealt with this," Thompson told BBC Scotland, referring to a conversation with the SFA's chief executive.
"I received two phone calls yesterday from Gordon Smith. The first was to ask for permission to speak to Craig.
"Later, I received another call from Gordon to tell me that an east coast journalist had leaked the story.
"I had told Gordon that I wanted 24 hours to consider the request and had told no-one about it except my board.
"The local press did not run the story, so where did it come from?"
SFA chief executive Smith earlier this week would not name any of the likely candidates but said he had been impressed by the standard of applicants.
Smith last week cancelled a proposed meeting with Unirea Urziceni coach Dan Petrescu after it leaked to the media.
Former Parma and Turkey boss Nevio Scala is also among the foreign coaches who have admitted they are interested in the role.
But, while it is thought that the SFA were keen to talk to Rangers' Walter Smith, whose side beat Levein's United 3-0 on Tuesday, the former Everton boss has distanced himself from a return to the Scotland job.
Smith, who was in charge of the national team before a return to Ibrox, has agreed to continue working without a contract after January as Rangers chairman Sir David Murray seeks a buyer for the club.
Rangers are under pressure from their bank because of a £31m debt and it is thought that having a manager under contract might deter buyers who might want to appoint their own management team and avoid having to pay compensation.
Burley was sacked last month after a 3-0 friendly defeat by Wales in Cardiff that followed a failed 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign.
The SFA wants Scotland to have a replacement in post before the draw for the next European Championships takes place in February.
Levein has made a good impression with the Tannadice club, despite being hampered by injury and suspension so far this season.
The former Hearts, Leicester and Raith Rovers boss has so far been unable to call upon last term's top scorer, Francisco Sandaza, or captain Lee Wilkie.
United are currently fourth in the Scottish Premier League but slipped seven points behind leaders Rangers after this week's defeat at Tannadice.
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