ascender

Well, the posting on FF was that the Rino deal was done, but that Milan don't want him to leave until his replacement has been signed.

I'm trying to stay optimistic. I think in some ways Smith was the only option realistically available to DM given that all this has come to a head within the last few weeks. If this had happened at the end of a season, or even at a time where we were comfortably in second place, then DM would have the luxury of more time to find the right man or to try and prise someone away from a club job. Given where we are and unfortunately, the fact we really can't afford a large compensation deal, I don't think its any surprise who he's gone for. Its also given him a chance to approach Smith in advance and sound him out about it, without it becoming public knowledge. Looks like PLG wasn't happy here, particularly about the Scottish players' mentality and attitude which has culminated in the Ferguson shambles. FWIW the papers are also saying that Ferguson has been given a monumental bollocking and his future is still far from safe here. Anyway, it looks like this was something that's just been the final straw for PLG and DM, rather than being the main reason to PLG's removal. DM is many things, but he's not stupid and I'm guessing even he could see that its just not been working out for PLG on the pitch after what was a promising start. Add that to the behind the scenes stuff and its obviously been coming. Can anyone on here honestly say that we've looked like we're turning the corner under PLG? The same could be said for last season under AM, but the difference then was that DM obviously knew who the new manager would be and didn't want to leave the club manager-less for 4 or 5 months which is why AM stayed. I feel sorry for PLG, but I don't think we'll ever know the full story about what's happened. Right man, wrong time maybe? I'd like to think we were all behind him, but at times he didn't help himself with some of his signings, his stubbornness and tactical decisions which were very reminiscent of AM's final season in charge. However, he has left our club with a small core of Scottish youngsters who have been given their chance to show what they can do for the first team and have gained quite a lot of experience already this season. Regarding Smith's last term in charge, its obviously different times at Ibrox now. Firstly from a financial point of view, things are obviously very different now. The main thing I hear about Smith at the moment is that his record in Europe was poor, which it was. I still think his biggest failing was his tactical naivety, but I really think he's learned a lot from his time at Everton where he was battling against much better teams week in week out and kept them in the Premiership for longer than anyone expected. And as for his time at Scotland boss, does that not show he's at least improved when it comes to playing against European sides? I'm not sure tbh, but it does show that he can galvanise a group of players on and off the pitch and I think that's half the problem with us at the moment. And the second time is never as good as the first. In fact, it usually ends in failure. I really hope this time that we're looking at the exception to the rule and that Smith can firstly steady the ship and secondly give us all something to be optimistic about on the pitch.

From what's being said in the papers today, its looking more and more like PLG was, for all intent and purposes, sacked or forced to resign. It looks like this was due to him obviously wanting away after struggling to get to grips with the Scottish game, but also the Scottish players and their mentality. Then you have the results and performances which left DM with little option apparently. As for Fergie, he's been given a proper bollocking by DM apparently and will not be getting the armband back, now or in the future. But he's certainly not "won" although that's how some people are looking at it, but I think that's down to the lack of an in-depth interview or statement with DM at the moment. A few places also say that Smith was being lined up for the last few weeks which would make sense as it was maybe the only way DM could get someone ready to take over without it being leaked to the media. A clause in Smith's Scotland contract has also been mentioned. He's unhappy that if Scotland don't qualify for the Euro championships, Scotland can just replace him. There also doesn't seem to be any ambiguity about it, Smith will be the manager with McCoist as his number 2. There's still talk of other guys like Durrant and maybe McCall being involved in some capacity with the 1st team.

I don't think the dust has settled by any means. 1. What exactly went on with PLG? 2. What exactly went on with Fergie and what is his position at the club now? 3. What is our new management team? 4. Who are we going to sign who will improve the team? Nothing's been confirmed or explained yet, so again, I'd like our illustrious leader to make an appearance and provide some answers.

If he's not on the management side, I'd like to see McCoist come in as a striking coach. Let him have a look at Sebo and give the lad a run in the reserves to get his confidence up before we bin him.

I've heard this from a few people, so it makes sense that given our current financial problems we'd be in for this sort of player regardless of who is in charge. Kind of a no-brainer. As for Webster, he's another player who we've been in for before and also fits the same criteria - wants to play for us, young, lots of potential, SPL experience etc.

You can never please the whole of our support. Whether we're winning or losing, there's always a section who are never happy with DM or the manager or certain players. I still think DM has just had to move fast this week to get things under control after it all started to go pear shaped. After PLG, he has to go with the safest and most reliable option to sort things out on the playing side.

I'd have thought Clement might go, along with Hemdani as well? As for the conspiracy theory, it makes for a good read! At the moment I'm thinking that PLG wanted out and its all come to a head. DM has wanted a quick resolution and that the Ferguson thing is just a coincidence although maybe PLG has used it to force DM's hand. Someone on FF did post this week to say that the Gattuso deal was pretty much finalised and would happen in the summer.

Only thing I'd say is that our time under PLG has shown that we shouldn't pre-judge any manager. We were hopeful of great things under PLG, but after the first few games, things went downhill.

Do you not think that we need to learn what went on before blaming him for today's events? Especially when we've all seen rumours for a while that PLG wasn't happy and wanted to leave.

How good was it to hear Ray Wilkins talking about the club in such a positive way, top player and a top bloke.

Totally agree about the rumours, no smoke without fire and all that. By that standard though, we should also consider that PLG has allegedly been unhappy here for some time. I still think there's much more to these two stories than meets the eye.

Whoever comes in, we need to get behind them 100% and we also need strong leadership from the top of the club.

I'm starting to lose track of how many threads we have which are discussing the same issues! No-one knows exactly what has happened over the last few days/weeks.

Might be a very long shot, but.... maybe the silence from the club has been because DM has been busy sorting out a successor, tying things up with PLG and getting finance in place for new signings?

That's what it looks like, but that's based on what we know at the moment. The guys on here have also been aware of rumours that PLG has been unhappy for months though. Until DM decides to do an in-depth interview, I don't think we'll be any the wiser about what's happened.

Walter Smith + a.n.other would be the easiest and maybe the most sensible option at the moment given the situation. If this had all happened at the end of the season, then I don't think they would be in the frame at all. But DM is in a really tricky position just now.

Stuart McCall - best suggestion yet. He's also been getting experience under Warnock for quite a while now. Not sure whether he'd leave though, he does seem really happy there.

Adriaanse has only been in charge of his current club since August, so that might be an expensive option.

Not my first choice by a long shot, the Adriaanse suggestion looks good, but I think it'll be a British manager again. The parallels from when Smith took over from Vogts and the state we're in are quite striking. DM will want a quick appointment, I think that's something in Smith's favour too.

The "understanding" on SSN is that if DM still wanted PLG to be in charge tonight, he would be.

So from all the guys saying its a depressing initial list of rumoured candidates, who would you like to realistically see?

I'd like to see McCoist here in some capacity. He's definitely been biding his time with a view to waiting for the right job to come along. No experience of management, but I think he'd do wonders for morale in the dressing room. He would of course be able to call on the experience of someone like Smith for advice and it might see him bringing some more of the 9IAR players back to Ibrox.

Who were the other names in the frame before PLG was appointed? I remember Curbishley being mentioned a lot, but since we moved forums, the history only goes back to May. McCoist with Smith for support was mentioned on SSN too.

Can he do much more with Scotland? I'm assuming he'd like to get us back to a major championship, so that alone might keep him where he is.