Dundee United Cant Afford Pressley

Craig Levein has confessed that Dundee United can't afford to sign former Hearts defender Steven Pressley.

In his weekly column for the Daily Record, Craig Levein admitted that he would still love to bring Elvis to Tannadice, but that club finances might prevent that from ever happening.

"I'm as big a fan as anyone of Steven Pressley. That's why I've been busy speaking to him in the last few days to make him aware of Dundee United`s interest in the hope he might just want to come to Tannadice," said Levein.

"With so many other big clubs showing a strong interest, I'm afraid he'll probably be out of our price bracket - I have to be honest about that."

There were suggestions that Dundee United would offer Pressley a coaching position at the club, as a lure to bring the Scotland International to Tannadice, but Craig Levein pour cold water on that when he announced yesterday that he doesn`t want or need another coach.

With limited funds, no coaching opportunities and limited potential success, it's hard to see any reason why Pressley would give Dundee United's offer any serious consideration - but Craig Levein admitted he wouldn't be doing his job if he didn't at least ask.

"As the old saying goes, if you don't ask, you don't get and that's exactly what I've been doing. But if he was to come here, it certainly wouldn't be in a player-coaching capacity."

"We had great times together at Hearts and Steven's still got far too much too offer on the playing field to be thinking about anything else."

"When you start to talk about coaching roles, its invariably a sign your playing days are coming to an end. That's not the case with Steven, who's a superbly fit guy having kept himself in great shape."

Although, Levein hasn`t given up all hope and will still continue to pursue Pressley, until he decides where his future lies.

"We'll keep trying and I don't necessarily think we`d need to meet face to face, so we'll see what happens over the next wee while."

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