Stevie Crawford commits to Dunfermline for the rest of the campaign despite interest from new Dundee United boss Robbie Neilson

BY ALAN TEMPLE – @CCP_Sport

DUNDEE UNITED target Stevie Crawford has committed his immediate future to Dunfermline following showdown talks with Pars chairman Ross McArthur.

New United boss Robbie Neilson revealed this week that he was keen to take the highly-rated coach to Tannadice, having worked closely with the former Scotland striker with Hearts and MK Dons.

Neilson stated ‘I’d like to try and get [Crawford] in, it’s something we’d like to do. He’s a fantastic coach’.

However, it is understood United did not make any official approach for Crawford – now Dunfermline’s reserve team manager – and he intimated his desire to stay at the club during a meeting with McArthur at East End Park yesterday afternoon.

Crawford is contracted to the Pars until the summer of 2019, at which point he would be free to link up with Neilson.

“The chairman [McArthur] sat down with Stevie on Thursday and, during that chat, Stevie indicated he wants to stay with Dunfermline,” said Pars boss Allan Johnston.

“Stevie is a top coach and has been great to work with. The youth players have taken to him brilliantly and he’s a massive part of our team so we’re delighted that he’s staying.

“Just like John Potter [now at Sunderland] before him, has done a really good job for us and has taken on that mantle of working with the players we’ve got coming through.

“You want to give those players consistency and it’s important to have quality coaches working with them.

“It’s business as usual and we want to keep Stevie.”

Crawford, who also aids Johnston in coaching the senior side, will be in the dugout for tomorrow’s Irn-Bru Cup last-16 clash against Alloa.