Craig Levein, the former Scotland boss, has opened up about his past gambling habit that left him inventing excuses to his wife after losing his wages.

Levein, 59, who now manages St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership, said his mother played slot machines and he was introduced to gambling at a young age when his father took him to high-street bookmakers.

The former Hearts and Scotland defender, who retired from playing in 1997, said his problems began with visits to the bookies but “changed enormously” with the advent of online gambling.

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Levein told his BBC Scotland Sacked in the Morning podcast that he reached a stage of inventing excuses to his wife for having