Levein was introduced at a Press conference at Tannadice this afternoon and was expected to be joined in his new role by long-time assistant Peter Houston.

Houston was No. 2 at Tynecastle and the Walkers Stadium, but, more recently, has been working with the SFA.

Since early this season, 41-year-old Levein has been manager of Raith Rovers, but operated on a non-contract basis and on the understanding that should a better job offer be forthcoming he was free to leave.

Levein will now attempt to succeed where five others have failed under Thompson. He follows Alex Smith, Paul Hegarty, Ian McCall, Gordon Chisholm and now Brewster.

The latter’s position had looked untenable since he appeared to question his own credentials in the wake of defeat at Aberdeen nine days ago — and his departure was effectively confirmed by Saturday’s humiliating 5-1 defeat at Falkirk.

After a day of discussion, a parting of the ways that was the sack by any other name was confirmed for manager and assistant last night.

That left reserve and youth coaches Tony Docherty and Stevie Campbell to take training today and opened the door for the chairman to make his move for Levein, the man at the top of the United wanted list.

As was widely publicised last week, Dunfermline were also keen to get the former Scotland international, but the fact United were willing to allow him to bring his own No. 2 gave them a clear advantage.

He is likely to take his first United training session tomorrow and set about preparing for Sunday’s home clash with Rangers and the battle to get a beleaguered team off the bottom of the table.

For Brewster, the last 24 hours have been spent reflecting on a dream job that turned into a nightmare.

A United legend after scoring the winning goal in the 1994 Scottish Cup Final, he successfully cut his teeth as an SPL manager at Inverness Caley Thistle and was hailed a long-term appointment when United wrestled him away from the Highlands with the help of six-figure compensation back in January.

Big money also went on obtaining the services of Thomson, youth coach Campbell and fitness coach Peter Davidson, while the summer saw former United goalkeeper Scott Thomson also added to the staff.

However, while the new coaching team set about revamping training methods and the fortunes of the youths and reserves, at first-team level there was to be no improvement, only a rapid decline.

Some 30 competitive fixtures between an opening draw with Aberdeen and Saturday’s final defeat resulted in just three victories.

With the team plunging to the bottom of the SPL, that left the chairman with no option other than to wield his axe once again.

While Alex feels he was harshly treated by referee Calum Murray, he also accepts he let his team down and, accordingly, has fined himself.

He’s also pledged to zip his lip — his first booking was for dissent — and keep his hands by his side in future games.

“I’ve not had a tackle in the game, I haven’t sworn and I have not made any offensive gestures at anyone, but I’ve ended up getting sent off,” he said today.

“I don’t think that’s right and I don’t like the way they are taking any discussion with referees out of the game, but I also know that I am not going to change the way things are and from now on I just have to live by the way things are rather than they should be.

“And, however hard done by I feel, I know I let my team down because I am absolutely convinced that having just equalised we would have gone on to draw, or even win, if we had kept 11 men on the park.

“From now on, I will just accept the referee’s decisions in silence and when I score another goal my hands will be down by my side in my shorts.”

Despite that decision and any remorse he feels, Alex remained adamant he had done nothing inflammatory after scoring.

“I stayed on the pitch, about 20 yards inside the lines in fact, and did nothing offensive. I saw a Benfica goal on the box last night and eight players jumped into the crowd after it — no one got booked there, but here they might all have been off.”

The gaffer will now have to watch from the stand this week as he serves an automatic ban for the home game against Gretna, though striker Derek Lyle will return to the squad after his suspension.

Jason Scotland and Paul Lawson will join long-term absentees Kevin Rutkiewicz and Kevin James on the sidelines as both are serving one-match bans. Scotland has gone over the penalty points mark and Lawson is suspended after his red-card in the loss to Clyde.