Caz
2nd May 2007, 10:07 AM
Rangers manager Walter Smith has urged his players to finally give their fans something to celebrate by clinching second spot in the Bank of Scotland Premier League.
Three points against Hibernian at Easter Road on Saturday will confirm their status as runners-up and bring some form of closure to what has been a bitterly disappointing season.
Rangers had no chance of catching Celtic in the title race by the time Smith returned to the Ibrox helm in January.
Now, just days after their rivals finally wrapped up the championship, he wants Rangers to complete their own unfinished business.
"For the first time, we have an opportunity to finish second if we win," said the Rangers boss.
"That, when we arrived here, was what we set out to do because Celtic were so far ahead in the league.
"We had to try to clinch second place to give us an opportunity to play in the Champions League which from a financial point of view is very important.
"Winning tomorrow sets that up for us but Easter Road is always a very difficult place to go.
"I just hope we can continue to play in the manner we have been playing."
Smith has been pleased with the progress already made since his return to Rangers, adding: "We have had a good response. When you look at the results you can see that.
"We've settled down and managed to grind out some good results.
"We've been pleased with the initial start that we have had.
"We're pleasantly surprised at the consistency we have had in terms of performance and managing to get the number of points we have."
Such consistency has led to cautious optimism in Govan that Smith can succeed next season where his predecessor Paul Le Guen spectacularly failed this time around.
At the very least, Rangers will be expected to mount a far stronger challenge for the championship.
But Smith is realistic enough to acknowledge that new faces and a whole lot of effort from the old faces will be needed for them to have any chance of stealing Celtic's crown.
He said: "The first thing you have to do at any football club is look at yourself and not look at anyone else.
"We look at ourselves first and, if we are going to have a more sustained challenge next season, we're going to have to make a few adjustments to the squad that we've got.
"It's not a matter of looking at other clubs; it's a matter of looking at Rangers, and Rangers have to improve next season if we are going to mount a challenge or be successful."
Rangers' 5-0 triumph over Celtic in the Youth Cup final on Thursday night provided the club with their first silverware in two years, and a stark reminder as to just how far the first team has fallen in recent campaigns.
But, asked whether he truly believes Rangers can wrest the title from Celtic's grasp next season, Smith replied: "When you work here you have to. We don't have any option."
Three points against Hibernian at Easter Road on Saturday will confirm their status as runners-up and bring some form of closure to what has been a bitterly disappointing season.
Rangers had no chance of catching Celtic in the title race by the time Smith returned to the Ibrox helm in January.
Now, just days after their rivals finally wrapped up the championship, he wants Rangers to complete their own unfinished business.
"For the first time, we have an opportunity to finish second if we win," said the Rangers boss.
"That, when we arrived here, was what we set out to do because Celtic were so far ahead in the league.
"We had to try to clinch second place to give us an opportunity to play in the Champions League which from a financial point of view is very important.
"Winning tomorrow sets that up for us but Easter Road is always a very difficult place to go.
"I just hope we can continue to play in the manner we have been playing."
Smith has been pleased with the progress already made since his return to Rangers, adding: "We have had a good response. When you look at the results you can see that.
"We've settled down and managed to grind out some good results.
"We've been pleased with the initial start that we have had.
"We're pleasantly surprised at the consistency we have had in terms of performance and managing to get the number of points we have."
Such consistency has led to cautious optimism in Govan that Smith can succeed next season where his predecessor Paul Le Guen spectacularly failed this time around.
At the very least, Rangers will be expected to mount a far stronger challenge for the championship.
But Smith is realistic enough to acknowledge that new faces and a whole lot of effort from the old faces will be needed for them to have any chance of stealing Celtic's crown.
He said: "The first thing you have to do at any football club is look at yourself and not look at anyone else.
"We look at ourselves first and, if we are going to have a more sustained challenge next season, we're going to have to make a few adjustments to the squad that we've got.
"It's not a matter of looking at other clubs; it's a matter of looking at Rangers, and Rangers have to improve next season if we are going to mount a challenge or be successful."
Rangers' 5-0 triumph over Celtic in the Youth Cup final on Thursday night provided the club with their first silverware in two years, and a stark reminder as to just how far the first team has fallen in recent campaigns.
But, asked whether he truly believes Rangers can wrest the title from Celtic's grasp next season, Smith replied: "When you work here you have to. We don't have any option."