Craig Levein has called for the role of SFA compliance officer to be axed because it ‘demonised’ everyone who’s done the job.
Incumbent Clare Whyte handed in her resignation yesterday and will step down at the end of the year, leaving the governing body looking for a fourth new CO after Vincent Lunny and Tony McGlennan previously did the job.
Levein fell foul of the compliance officer more than once while Hearts manager, but believes having an individual deciding who is punished and for what makes life far too difficult for them, and has suggested a law firm deals with the disciplinary aspect of the game instead.
“It’s a position I wouldn’t want for all the money in the world,” he told the Daily Record.
“It’s maybe time for a different approach. If you are in that position then you are in a no win situation.
“Eventually every club and their supporters will have some sort of gripe against you.
“Previous compliance officers found it difficult as well.
“It needs to be less personal. It doesn’t need to be a compliance officer but perhaps a law firm could take the role under their wing.
“Looking at it from the outside now, I’d say this position has demonised every person who has taken it by the very nature of what the job is.
“There obviously needs to be some sort of disciplinary procedure. But I just feel the single compliance officer role needs to change.”
SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell said: "I would like to thank Clare for her commitment to the role over the past two years with the Scottish FA.
“In what is a high-pressure position in a relentless environment, she has shown professionalism and resilience.
“We will begin the process of recruiting a replacement in early course.”
