FlippinEck 3,737 Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 http://www.sundaypos...ccoist-1.736263Think Gordon is spot on with everything he says here.Dear Ally,We’ve known each other a long time.Back at the start of the 1980s, we were on opposing sides in a match between Brighton and Sunderland – and both of us ended up on the scoresheet.We later shared a room on a golf trip to Las Vegas and will forever be linked by our mutual involvement in the events surrounding Rangers’ liquidation in 2012, something I could never have envisaged happening.There have been a lot of questions thrown up since then. I would like, therefore, to make a public appeal to you for answers.Answers to the questions that have left Rangers supporters dazed and confused throughout the events of the last 72 hours.To read on the morning of a crucial Championship match that you had tendered your resignation was unprecedented.To subsequently see you refuse to either confirm or deny those reports was strange in the extreme.I understand sometimes individuals are bound by contractual obligation from communicating as freely as they might wish.In this case though, that simply doesn’t wash.For the support of a huge football club to be left in the dark about something as fundamental as whether or not their manager has resigned is totally unacceptable.So, the first question to be answered is – have you given your notice?And, if not, why didn’t you take the opportunity to shoot down the reports as nonsense?When you are talking about such an important issue, that has to be the course of action. Stability is crucial at any football club. When you are talking about Rangers, a club whose financial problems mean they have to win promotion this season, it is a necessity.Players need to know who their leader is and what, within reason, his plans are for the future.Secondly, if you have a desire to quit, then why not go now, under your own terms?Do as I did two years ago and leave Ibrox without seeking money to do so because you think it is in the best interests of Rangers Football Club.You were rightly given credit for the character and mental strength you showed back in 2012 and for staying on and making yourself a focal point at a time when the club was in complete disarray.You famously said then: “We don’t do walking away”.But what if it becomes the honourable thing to do – and practically the only thing to do?There is no way you or any of the coaches were responsible for blowing a two-goal lead at Alloa with 20 minutes remaining of the Petrofac Cup semi-final.That was down to under-performing players. But you do carry the responsibility for the results.You were given every financial advantage over opposition managers at every stage of this journey up through the divisions.Even with the wage cut you agreed to, you have remained the highest-paid manager in Scotland over this period.While the successive titles cannot be taken away from you, the failures of the current campaign threaten to sabotage so much of the progress made.Leaving now would allow a new man to come in and see if he can do better.You know we are not talking about any untried foreign coaches, but about men such as Stuart McCall and Terry Butcher.Former Rangers team-mates of yours, who you know have the best interests of the club at heart and who boast solid managerial credentials.As things stand, the club is not going to win the Championship title. Not with Hearts nine points clear and holding a game in hand.Many, in fact, would argue Rangers will do well to match the Edinburgh outfit’s points haul between now and the end of the season.Yet I believe that the extra impetus caused by a change at the top could make a huge difference.There is an almost chemical reaction that occurs when a new manager takes over a dressing-room. You’ll have seen that for yourself during your playing career, like when Jock Wallace replaced John Greig and when Graeme Souness took over from Big Jock.A galvanised squad would certainly have the ability to string together the kind of long winning-run which is now required to catch Hearts.This brings me to the last of my central questions to you – why is this Rangers team so bad?Men like Kris Boyd, Ian Black, Nicky Law, Jon Daly, Dean Shiels and David Templeton have all individually impressed in the Premier League.I could see why you signed them.Their collective floundering in the lower divisions surely must make you doubt what you yourself have been doing on the training ground at Murray Park?People might argue results are what matter. But the football your teams have produced has been uninspiring to watch – and that has been in games that you have won.It’s little wonder fans are staying away in their droves.You will know that a certain style is demanded by the Rangers supporters, who have been reared on the genius of Davie Cooper, Brian Laudrup and Paul Gascoigne.While everyone accepts the days of multi-million pound transfers are gone from Scottish football, it is not unreasonable for fans, who pay through the nose week-in, week-out, to be offered a decent standard of football.And it is not unreasonable to suggest that more kids should have been brought through from Murray Park to the first team over the past three years.When there is more drama to be found off the pitch than on it, then something has gone seriously wrong.That was added to when the news broke that you had tendered your resignation.You should follow that through by going this week, for the club’s sake – and yours.Yours, Gordon. 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Westwood Bear 61 Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 If that's genuine, it's a phenomenal letter. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Great Dane 4 Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 http://www.sundaypos...ccoist-1.736263Think Gordon is spot on with everything he says here.100% Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kanjo 26,394 Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 He summed up how i feel pretty well Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HG5 11,411 Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 Apart from careless use of the 'L' word. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bears r us 30,998 Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 Wow. Great article. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tannerall 25,935 Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 If that's genuine, it's a phenomenal letter.This, if true proves Gordon really does have his heart on his sleeve.I dislike the term "Rangers Men" but if this is true Gordon is one who truly deserves the term. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluemc 305 Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 Can't argue with any of that Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigAmo'sThighs 848 Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 Can't argue with any of that. Appreciate Gordon Smith trying to get some clarity on the situation. This needs to be resolved quickly, for the clubs sake. Surely Ally can see the need to get this done quickly so we can all move on. We're at a critical time in the clubs history. It's the fans that are left with the shite. We really need someone strong to make a decision off the field and on it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcb 1,167 Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 At last a former player tells it like it is.Gordon Smith is the sort of person who should be at the club imo.A clever guy with a lot of ideas to take us forward both on and off the park. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DietofWorms 2,067 Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 Written like a fan. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bothwellbear 1,392 Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 That can not be real. ..surely. ..Wow. .. just wow if true Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamie 4,855 Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 Who had Gordon Smith on the sweepstake? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GOAT 30,449 Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 Apart from the Terry butcher comment, spot on. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cushynumber 25,178 Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 Puts ally on the spot with the "do as I did and walk away with nothing" bit. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
siddiqi_drinker 14,635 Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 Excellent letter which sums up the feelings of many a Rangers supporter.Hope Ally takes his nose out the trough and actually reads the letter. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BridgeIsBlue 66,654 Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 I hope to christ that this real,a truly outstanding letter that tells things how it is. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carsons Dog 9,878 Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 Wow - just wow Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandblue 366 Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 Agree with every word apart from Terry Butcher as posted above Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thehost 11,061 Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 mccoist and pals will be seething at that letterabsolutely seethingthe biggest dagger being the walk away with no cash Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PromDeAnglais 5,700 Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 Nail, hammer, head. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan_1 1,136 Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 It's what basically alot of the posters on here have been saying for a while now, absolutely bang on. Refreshing to see someone linked with the club, actually having the balls to say to McCoist enough is enough. Also I.e Gordon Smith, I know he was part of the board in that dreadful Craig Whyte reign, but alot of Smith's ideas and plans for the club I really liked and thought we should already have in place, maybe in future I'd like to see him back at the club in some capacity. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
StornowayBlue 630 Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 Airing our laundry in public, I don't believe Smith wrote that at all. I see no point in crying over spilt milk, what's happened is in the past and I see no class in making Ally answer these questions. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
one cutty young 140 Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 The best critical analysis and comment so far. Now if only others truly with Rangers at heart join in. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
legalbeagle 3,734 Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 Not a particularly nice thing to do to a mate in the national press, to be honest. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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