SFA summon Smith for job-share talks

14 April 2012

David Taylor has reluctantly opened the door for Walter Smith to work for Rangers and Scotland - in the short-term at least.

The SFA chief executive will meet with the international manager in a Hampden summit today that will determine the way ahead for the Ibrox club and the Tartan Army.

Smith wants to return to Ibrox but also hopes to leave Scotland amicably if possible as Sir David Murray seeks to bring back his former boss and Ally McCoist.

Now negotiations could centre on a plan to keep him in charge for the vital Euro 2008 double-header against Georgia and Italy at the end of March.

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, the last man to take the dual role involving Scotland, insisted Walter can make it work.

Taylor for his part made it clear the SFA don't want Smith to break his contract and will demand compensation if the Scotland manager walks out of his £250,000-per-year post.

"I have spoken to Walter on the 'phone but we need to talk now face to face and that will happen on Monday," said Taylor.

"He is Scotland manager and he is under contract to us until July 2008. We have had some contact from Rangers.

"Job-sharing would be complicated and not ideal. But I will be disappointed if he leaves the national post."

Asked about a short-term sharing plan, with Scotland having the Georgia and Italy games looming in March and a trip to the Faroe Islands on June 6, Taylor hinted that compromise might work.

"In the short-term it would save us major disruption," said the SFA chief executive.

"We have arguably the key double-header in the group looming now in March and I feel the home game against Georgia is absolutely key to our qualification chances.

"If it comes to pass that we have a managerial disruption that is almost the worst time possible.

"We have to consider all the angles if indeed there is going to be a change. Rangers have made contact so now we need to know Walter's views on it all.

"We don't want to fall out with anyone over this but we are pleased with him as Scotland manager and would like him to stay. That is our starting point."

Old Trafford chief Ferguson said yesterday: "It would be a blow to Scotland to lose him because he has been fantastic for the national team.

"But there might be a way of accommodating Walter in both positions.

"I did that in 1986 with Aberdeen and Scotland and that was without the level of experience which Walter now has. It is certainly feasible."

Asked if Rangers could face SFA sanctions for 'poaching' Smith, Taylor said: "We regulate such matters between clubs but this is an unusual situation between a club and a national association.

"I do not think there would be anything to pursue there in terms of breached regulations. But there is a contract there which has legal implications and that is in the forefront of our mind.

"We've already lost Jim Sinclair and Tommy Wilson to Rangers so maybe there is something with this particular club.

"Walter had indicated that he had no desperate desire to get back into club football and that Scotland suited him at this time of his career. Maybe with Rangers it is different, I don't know."

Meanwhile, caretaker Ian Durrant last night apologised to the Rangers fans as his 90 minutes as a manager ended in Scottish Cup embarrassment at Dunfermline.

Stephen Kenny's relegation-threatened outfit pulled off a stunning 3-2 success at East End Park to leave the Ibrox club staring at another trophyless season.

Durrant's big day was wrecked by appalling defending, Rangers slumping 3-0 down in 46 minutes before Kris Boyd netted a double.

It is 37 years since the Ibrox club went two consecutive seasons without landing domestic silverware but that is the reality facing them now with Celtic's SPL coronation due around March.

"What is my message to the Rangers fans? Sorry," said icon Durrant, with Walter Smith lined up to replace Paul le Guen this week.

"I am hurting but so will every fan and 18 players in that dressing room downstairs.

"We are all hurting with the way the league has gone, it would take a miracle to catch Celtic. We're out of two other cups and the UEFA Cup will be difficult although it is our only chance of silverware now.

"It is disappointing but we must now try and grasp reality. It is imperative we finish second in the league and try and get a bit of respectability around the club again."

Smith's transfer targets for Rangers are already open secrets with names ranging from Hibernian's Scott Brown, Hearts paid Paul Hartley and Robbie Neilson and Alan Gow of Falkirk.

But Durrant acknowledged there will be a massive job ahead and clearing out deadwood that represents a Murray Park fire hazard won't be as easy as some supporters might hope.

"They are all under contract as Rangers players and it is very easy to say bump, bump, bump and so and so will be out," said Durrant.

"It will be down to the new manager. It is way above my control and I'm sure someone will be there trying to rectify things."

Recalled midfielder Barry Ferguson came close to an equaliser with a header that hit the bar at 3-2.

But Durrant wanted the second-half fighting spirit far earlier as goals from Jim Hamilton, Stephen Simmons and Phil McGuire plunged Rangers 3-0 behind.

"I wanted that reaction from them from the first whistle - not in the last half-hour," added Durrant.

"They showed they could do it in that spell but you just cannot switch it on and off.

"We had to match fire-with-fire. We knew Dunfermline would be like that and get balls in. We should have been ready for that - it is not always about playing football and looking lovely, it is about rolling the sleeves up.

"We did not do it for the first half-hour and it has cost us dearly."

Jeremy Clement missed out with a knee injury with Rangers today awaiting results of a scan on loan signing Andy Webster.

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