Midsummer Moves

24/06/20: Stevie sends best wishes to the newly appointed managers at St Johnstone and Hearts

Those filling two recent managerial positions are both former colleagues of Dunfermline boss Stevie Crawford he was delighted for both Callum Davidson, the successor to Tommy Wright at St Johnstone and Robbie Neilson who moves from Dundee United to Heart of Midlothian. Firstly referring to the appointment of 43 year old Davidson, Stevie said:-

“It was the right thing for him I think. He has obviously got fond memories of his playing career there, he worked under Tommy Wright on the coaching side so to be able to get his first manager’s post at a club with which he has a good affiliation, was too good an opportunity to turn down.”

Callum Davidson started his career at St Johnstone before having a successful career down south with Blackburn Rovers, Leicester City and Preston North End, returning to St Johnstone in 2011. Between 1998 and 2009 Callum also amassed 26 caps for Scotland.

Callum had a spell as first team coach at Stoke City as well as being involved with the coaching staff at the Scotland National side. He joined Stevie Crawford’s coaching staff at East End Park from February 2019 until the end of the 2018-2019 season. Stevie added:-

“I was fortunate to bring Callum in when he was out of work last year. We had been on the Pro Licence together and when I worked with Falkirk, Callum was based at Stirling University with St Johnstone so we had many a conversation in our spells there.

“I texted him wishing him all the very best and no doubt we will be in contact over the next few months just to bounce a few things off one another with the challenges that we are going to be facing. I am absolutely delighted for him, he is a great boy.”

The other major managerial move this week also involved a manager that Stevie knows very well. Robbie Neilson left Dundee United at the beginning of this week to return as Head Coach at Hearts. While at Hearts and subsequently MK Dons, Stevie Crawford worked with Robbie as his assistant manager.

From Falkirk, Craw moved to a similar position at Hearts in May 2014. Despite the presence of both Hibernian and Rangers in the Championship that season he led Hearts to the title with a massive 21 point cushion. Stevie wished his former colleague all the best with his new role:-

“I didn’t find out until Sunday evening. I have spoken to Robbie to wish him all the best. I didn’t go into the ins and outs why, that is up to him to work out his reasons for it.”

Neilson, who played as a right back started his senior career with Hearts with making 200 SPL appearances and winning the Scottish Cup in 2006 with the club.

“Again when I talk about Callum Davidson’s affiliation with St Johnstone, I know that Robbie played the majority of his playing days at Hearts and he really enjoyed that spell as first team coach when I worked with him at the club. It just seemed that the attraction was too good for him and he felt that it was the right decision for himself.

“No doubt we will find ourselves facing each other next season again which comes as a surprise but I just wish him all the best in that role.”

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