LEVEIN AND THE BLONDE: She's putting a smile back on Craig's face

SOCCER boss Craig Levein is being comforted by a stunning new woman - days after splitting from his wife.

It was revealed only yesterday that the ex-Hearts manager has left wife Carol after 19 years of marriage.

Today the Sunday Mirror can reveal that he is getting over the split with the help of a pretty blonde.

The mystery woman, who is in her early 30s, has been staying with Levein at his pounds 180-a-night bolthole on the outskirts of Edinburgh.

And when Levein headed south on Friday to start his new job with Leicester City, the woman stayed on at the posh Dalmahoy Golf and Country Club at Levein's expense.

Levein had checked in there after telling wife Carol that he was leaving her.

A friend of Levein said yesterday: "The break-up of the marriage is very sad for all concerned. But the new lady is helping Craig smile again. They are very keen on each other."

He booked two rooms at the hotel, one for himself and his new woman - and a neighbouring room for two 10-year-old girls, believed to be the woman's daughter and her friend.

Levein, 40, checked out on Friday afternoon after settling the bill for the two rooms and headed straight to Leicester to take up his new pounds 250,000-a-year post.

But his new woman stayed an extra night and checked out yesterday morning with the two girls after paying the extras on Levein's account.

She was so laden down with luggage she was forced to make several trips from the hotel lobby out to her car. The petite blonde was also spotted carrying a pair of men's Caterpillar boots and dumping them in the boot of her car.

A source said: "The woman has obviously been keeping a low profile, especially after Levein announced he'd split from his wife.

"She stayed on in the hotel and left yesterday morning and seemed oblivious to the publicity surrounding Levein's move south and his split from his wife.

"In fact she seemed more concerned about getting back the electric toothbrush she'd lost from the room."

It emerged yesterday that Levein, one of the brightest up-and- coming managers in British football, had moved out of the luxury villa he shared with wife Carol, 41, and 16-year-old daughter Christie in Fife.

The end of the previously rock-solid marriage has left Carol devastated, according to friends.

The pair met as teenagers when they worked for the same electronics firm in Fife. They married in 1985 at St Leonard's Church in Dunfermline.

Levein was regarded as a hero by the Hearts fans, both when he was a boss and a player. He played for the Jambos for 14 years and won 16 Scotland caps before injury forced him to quit the game.

Yesterday Levein's wife Carol was still too distressed to talk about the split.

She said: "I really don't want to say anything."

A friend said: "Poor Carol is really suffering. It is such a shame."

Last night Levein declined to discuss the relationship . He said: "It's a personal matter. Anybody who needs to be informed has been informed."

Do you know the mystery woman? Call the Scottish Daily Mirror newsdesk on 0141 221 2121.

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