BEING the subject of unfounded speculation about his future and bearing the brunt of supporters’ wrath after a bad result are not exactly new experiences for Craig Levein.

The Hearts manager was singled out for some vitriolic abuse from fans who have grown increasingly unhappy with the unattractive fare produced and some of the disappointing results recorded by the capital club of late following the 2-1 defeat to city rivals Hibernian in the Edinburgh derby match at Tynecastle on Saturday.

Afterwards, he was forced to dismiss suggestions that he was poised to stand down from his position and retire to a quieter life in Spain.

It was all far from ideal preparation for the William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final his charges will play against the Inverness Caledonian Thistle side managed by his former team mate John Robertson at Hampden tomorrow. But he has been through it all, and much worse, many times before over the last 22 years. Since the day he stepped into the dugout in fact.

“My first job in management was at Cowdenbeath,” he said. “I was standing at Lesser Hampden with 400 people inside the stadium. You would be lucky if there were 50 Cowdenbeath fans there. But they were all singing ‘You Don’t Know What You’re Doing!’ That is the worst feeling. That prepares you for anything in football management.

“At that moment, those fans were actually right! But, believe it or not, like any job it is a learning curve. I went on to have a really good team. I came here (for his first spell as Hearts manager in 2000) in the same season that Cowdenbeath got promoted. I didn’t know what I was doing then, but I did by the time I got them promoted.”

Levein has learned that concentrating on matters in the park, not the flak that is flying in his direction from the baying mob in the stands or what the internet rumourmongers are suggesting online, is the best way to deal with the periods of adversity that everyone in his profession invariably encounters in their career.

The 54-year-old insists the growing unrest in the stands has had no effect on him as he attempts to lead Hearts to a place in the final next month against either Aberdeen or Celtic. He expects a positive result this weekend will lead to a far more harmonious atmosphere down Gorgie way going forward.

“I have realised over the years is that the only way you can have an influence on what is happening behind you is by focusing on what is in front of you, dealing with that and blanking the rest out,” he said.

“The stuff in the stadium last Saturday I can blank out. I don’t hear the noise as there is so much going on. Trying to stay focused on the thing that actually matters has taught me that if you get distracted and start thinking about what other people are saying then it takes your eye off what is actually happening on the park.

“The recent negativity has come from the fact that we lost the Edinburgh derby. That is always the case when you lose to Hibs. There is no doubting that it is exciting to have an opportunity to go to Hampden with the chance to reach the Scottish Cup final and play in the last game of the season. We just need to keep everybody focused.”

Levein has felt no need to speak to his players about the wild claims that he was poised to quit his position and move to warmer climes since the loss to Hibs. “Why?” he asked. “I seriously had to laugh. Not only am I leaving, but they’re actually very specific about where I’m going. If they’d have said I was going to retire to a cottage in the north of Scotland then, aye, fair enough! I really do laugh at how everything grows arms and legs.”

Robertson knows all about the pressures of playing for and managing Hearts himself having done both with some success during his career. Levein admires what his old mucker has done in the Highlands in demanding circumstances since returning to coaching in a surprise move two years ago. The 2015 Scottish Cup winners have reached the last four of the national knockout cup competition and are in fourth place in the Ladbrokes Premiership and in strong contention for a play-off spot.

“Considering he’s had his budget cut, he’s done a fantastic job,” he said. “I’m still friendly with him from however many years ago, 35 years or whatever. We still speak.

“Robbo will, having been involved in semi-finals, be able to talk to his team about what to expect. He knows us, I know him. He knows our players, I know his players. We’ll see who carries it out best.”