Come And Join Us

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Exclusive by Lindsay Herron

 

GAVIN RAE is hoping Stevie Smith can join the growing colony of ex-Rangers at Cardiff City next season - in the Premiership.

 

Chris Burke and Ross McCormack are also regulars with the promotion-chasing side while Stevie Thomson is currently on loan at Burnley.

 

Stevie SmithOut of favour full back Smith has been interesting Bluebirds boss Dave Jones and he travelled to Wales last week.

 

Smith played in a specially-arranged friendly game and had a good discussion with the Cardiff manager.

 

With the window for loan signings in the Championship now closed, Smith is hoping there can be further discussions in the summer.

 

And old team mate Rae will be thrilled if a deal can done AND Cardiff have made it into the top flight.

 

He told Rangers World: "I spoke to Smithy when I heard he was down for a trial and Burkey saw him when he was down.

 

"Obviously the gaffer has a few ex-Rangers players on the books and he seems to have done well with them so it would be great if Stevie could be the next one.

 

"He is a great wee player so hopefully he can come down and join us."

 

Cardiff are nine points behind Alex McLeish's Birmingham, who currently occupy second spot which carries automatic promotion, but they have two games in hand.

 

There are eight games left in the Championship but Cardiff have four in eight days, starting with bitter rivals Swansea on Sunday morning.

 

Rae said: "We are still in a good position. We have not been out of the top six all season and hopefully we don't fall out now.

 

"We have eight games to go so the plan is to go on a run and just go for it.Ross McCormack celebrates his strike for Scotland

 

"We have a heavy schedule of games coming up but that's normal down there. You seem to play more than you train but we are used to it now."

 

Unfortunately, Scotland hero Ross McCormack will be missing for the Bluebirds after being sent off in the last league match - a 3-0 defeat by Sheffield United.

 

However, Rae is in no doubt that he has arrived as an international player.

 

He said: "He has been doing brilliantly for us since he joined and I think he's got it all in his locker.

 

"Playing week in, week out at Cardiff has been a big thing for him and obviously helped him.

 

"There is nothing like making your Hampden debut for Scotland and it was a bit special for Ross. In saying that he was probably our best player against Holland too so to get two man of the match awards and a goal can't be bad."