Walter Smith admits he fears losing top stars

[johnnyk 158]

WALTER Smith last night revealed a domestic double and �£15million Champions League bounty won't save Rangers from a summer of first-team cutbacks.

 

Smith could be forced into selling some of the key men behind his side's SPL and Scottish Cup successes.

 

As he paraded both trophies at Ibrox yesterday, the Rangers boss warned fans that not even automatic entry into UEFA's most lucrative tournament will allow him to keep his squad together.

 

Already Brahim Hemdani and Christian Dailly have left the club under freedom of contract and Smith expects to lose another four or five senior players from his pool before the next campaign begins.

 

Record Sport revealed last week Smith hopes to partly finance a �£3m move for West Brom winger Chris Brunt by sending ex-skipper Barry Ferguson the other way as a �£1m makeweight.

 

And yesterday he conceded more big names could follow Ferguson out of the door.

 

Smith, who first flagged up the urgent nature of Rangers' finances back in January when he accepted a s4m offer from Birmingham for striker Kris Boyd, said: "We have that whole financial situation to face again this summer.

 

"It never affected Rangers in the latter stages of this season because we didn't lose any players in January as Kris did not move on. But we still have that situation to address. The Champions League money makes a difference in that we have more power in deciding who stays and goes but the situation is still there.

 

"We will have to adjust in a number of ways and cut the squad back. Christian and Brahim have left and we will lose a few others. There are three or four positions that could be doing with enhancing but if we can't do it, that's the way it is."

 

Smith wants captain Davie Weir to return to Ibrox for one more season - despite the fact he will turn 40 in May. The manager will hand Weir the armband once more but will also identify a new vice-captain who will be groomed to take over, with Kevin Thomson the top candidate.

 

Smith said: "Davie is keen to continue and at his age that is the first question. From what I've seen he can carry on. He was brilliant for us all season and never missed a day's training. We give him more rest than others but he has never missed a day through a knock, tiredness or anything.

 

"At times you look at players and as long as their assets outweigh their faults they are good to go on and Davie's assets still outweigh any faults. I hope he will stay as captain but we will have more games next season and that is something we will consider as we go."

 

But while Weir will be handed a new one-year deal Smith is unsure if the likes of Boyd and Nacho Novo, who have one more season left to run on their contracts, will be offered extensions. He said: "The global recession is a problem we are not immune to so it is hard to make decisions on anyone.

 

"The problem kicks in now. It means the decision process is not as straightforward as when I arrived and I could say, 'I want him, him and him'. It will not be an easy close season for anybody."

 

Smith is himself entering into the final few months of his contract but insists he will stay in charge for at least next season's title defence.

 

And he has ruled out the prospect of moving upstairs to a new position in order to free up the job for right-hand man and protege Ally McCoist.

 

Smith said: "I want to make one thing clear: I am not going to do that. I don't want to be a director of football and sit here in judgment of another manager. If I leave Rangers I will leave and that is it. If they welcome me back I will come to watch a game or two but not as director of football."

 

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/2009/06/02/walter-smith-admits-he-fears-losing-top-stars-despite-rangers-champions-league-cash-boost-86908-21408298/

[bmck 117]

looks like the "i still have to talk to murray about it" line while saying he hoped to keep his big stars in the last interview has happened think it was always going to though.

[calscot 0]

I think he knows who he wants to sell but is trying to make it look like it's out of his hands. I think that means Boyd and MacGregor to go.

 

I think the safe ones are Alexander, Whittaker, Broadfoot, Weir, Bougherra, Papac, Davis, Mendes, Edu, Thomson, Lafferty, Miller, Aaron, Fleck.

[Gazza_8 233]

Aaron should just head back to Spain. He's not playing here so there's no point in us paying his wages.

[Gribz 743]

Agree with Calscots list and agree with Gav. I dont see the point in Aaron sitting on the bench every week without fail and getting about 97 minutes the whole season. That has a knock on effect and deprives another youngster the chance to sit on the bench.

[calscot 0]

Aaron should just head back to Spain. He's not playing here so there's no point in us paying his wages.

 

Maybe he should just give up football as he didn't get a game in Spain either.

 

Or maybe like all teenage players at BIG clubs he should bide his time and concentrate on his development. You must be mistaking us for Berwick Rangers or something.

 

Walter did a certain Rino Gattuso no harm - and started playing him when he was 19/20. Unfortunately the next manager didn't rate him after playing him out of his natural position and offloaded him before he wanted to go...

[calscot 0]

Agree with Calscots list and agree with Gav. I dont see the point in Aaron sitting on the bench every week without fail and getting about 97 minutes the whole season. That has a knock on effect and deprives another youngster the chance to sit on the bench.

 

And with recaro seats instead of a bench, I bet all the youngsters are dead jealous...

[gisabeer 409]

looks like the "i still have to talk to murray about it" line while saying he hoped to keep his big stars in the last interview has happened think it was always going to though.

 

If the mhanks manage to qualify for the champions league proper it will have major implications on what we do as far as selling and buying players is concerned.

 

Murray and co will be sitting with their fingers crossed that they dont qualify. we need every penny that is comming our way and if they dont make it then its a few million more for us. And we need it badly.

 

Dont expect too much to happen in the transfer window till we know their fate. theres a lot riding on it.

 

PS Ill be sitting with my fingers crossed too!

[alexscottislegend 2,060]

If the mhanks manage to qualify for the champions league proper it will have major implications on what we do as far as selling and buying players is concerned.

 

Murray and co will be sitting with their fingers crossed that they dont qualify. we need every penny that is comming our way and if they dont make it then its a few million more for us. And we need it badly.

Dont expect too much to happen in the transfer window till we know their fate. theres a lot riding on it.

 

PS Ill be sitting with my fingers crossed too!

 

Correct me if I'm wrong but if they fail, then doesn't that harm Scotland's co-efficient, which means we could face qualifying rounds the season after next? If Scotland's automatic CL place goes, it will almost impossible for us or any Scottish side to qualify. You won't like me saying it but we need THEM to do well -along with all Scottish sides.

[ascender 352]

Problem is that we don't know how bad the finances are, so we don't know what he needs to do. By releasing or selling Dailly, Hemdani, Ferguson, McGregor, Broadfoot & McCulloch for example, that should see a massive chunk off the wage bill and maybe finance bringing in someone like Brunt and a couple of bosmans or cheap signings on lower wages. If Webster is fit for example, then maybe sell Broadfoot. Alexander has proven he's our number 1, so McGregor's position isn't as strong as it was. Ferguson wasn't missed in the title run-in, so I think that will give WS confidence he's not irreplaceable.

 

I think we have the nucleus of a good team built around some younger players like Edu, Lafferty, Thomson, Whittaker, Davis & Boyd for example as well as more experienced ones like Papac, Bougherra & Weir. Selling any of those players would be a real false economy in my opinion as you'll struggle to replace them given the money available.

 

I think WS needs to start having more faith in the young reserve players. Start putting them on the bench and giving them time in games or ship them out for a season to other clubs, but if the financial situation is grim, we really need to start making the most of our homegrown players. If that means WS goes and we bring someone in who has a proven track record of bringing young players on, then so be it.