Craig Levein exits as Scotland coach following talks
By Chris McLaughlin
Senior Football Reporter, BBC Scotland
5 November 2012
Last updated at 16:04 GMT
Craig Levein will not be carrying on as Scotland coach, BBC Sport understands.
It follows a poor start to the World Cup campaign, with Scotland sitting bottom of Group A.
The seven-man Scottish Football Association board met at the end of last week to consider the 48-year-old Fifer's position.
And the decision comes the day before the international squad is due to be announced for next month's friendly in Luxembourg.
The SFA board had come in for widespread criticism for deliberating over the weekend about the future of the former Hearts, Leicester City, Hearts and Dundee United manager.
His contract was due to run until summer 2014, with reports claiming that sacking Levein now could cost the SFA up to £700,000.
Levein, who took over in December 2009, had already been under pressure after Scotland drew their opening Hampden qualifiers against Serbia and Macedonia.
Defeats by Wales and Belgium led to a widespread expectation that he would be removed from his post.
Scotland have only won three of their 12 competitive matches with the former international defender in charge.
However, Levein had vowed not to resign, while captain Darren Ferguson and other members of the Scotland squad have gone public with their desire for the coach to remain in post.
Levein tried to convince SFA chief executive Stewart Regan and president Campbell Ogilivie that he should remain in post during a meeting early last week.
Scotland have gathered two points from four matches in their World Cup group, with qualification already looking well beyond them.
The Scots travel face Luxembourg for their friendly on 14 November but do not have another qualifier until hosting Wales on 22 March.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20205303