Another article 'confirming' the new management

[Danny 9]

Walter Smith and Ally McCoist will be the new Rangers management team in the wake of Paul Le Guen's dismissal yesterday, The Daily Telegraph can reveal.

 

Smith, who has 18 months left to run on his contract as Scotland manager, will be appointed in a supervisory capacity, such as director of football, but may take charge of team affairs for a short period. McCoist is expected be groomed to take over full managerial duties, with assistance from other former Ibrox heroes like Ian Durrant and Stuart McCall.

Sir David Murray, the Rangers chairman, moved swiftly to solve the shambles brought about by Le Guen's inability to adjust to Scottish football, which came to a head with the Frenchman's decision on New Year's Day to strip Barry Ferguson of the captaincy and drop him for Tuesday's game against Motherwell.

Afterwards, when asked whether he had cleared the Ferguson decision with Murray, Le Guen answered: "I speak to the chairman all the time." When asked what the chairman's response had been, Le Guen replied: "I have said enough."

That he did not have Murray onside in such a crucial judgment became clear yesterday when Le Guen's dreadful spell in charge at Ibrox ? Rangers are 17 points behind arch-rivals Celtic in the Scottish title race ? came to an abrupt end, by what was said to be mutual agreement. In fact, The Daily Telegraph can reveal that Le Guen ? whose seven-month reign makes him the shortest-lived incumbent in the club's 134-year history ? was sacked by Murray, an employer known for his reluctance to fire managers.

The news of Le Guen's departure was broken in mid-afternoon on the club website, upon which a brief statement read: "Rangers Football Club today announced by mutual agreement with manager Paul Le Guen that he will relinquish his position as manager of the first team with immediate effect."

Murray commented: "Having met with Paul it was clear that in the interests of the club and all concerned we agreed jointly to him stepping down as manager. We are all clearly dis-appointed with our current circumstances and will now focus on securing a suitable replacement. I would like to wish Paul and his management team well in the future."

Le Guen stated on the website: "I am disappointed to leave the club, but I think it is the best solution for all concerned. I would like to thank all the people who helped me and my team during my spell in Scotland."

Meanwhile, Durrant, the reserve team coach, will take charge of training and preparations for Sunday's Tennents Scottish Cup tie with Dunfermline.

There is an understandable allure about Smith and McCoist as a ready-made management team. Smith, 58, was Ibrox manager between 1991-98 and McCoist remains a huge favourite with supporters.

"I think it's the right move, wholeheartedly," another former Ibrox hero, Ray Wilkins, said last night. "They'll go down the road of bringing in British players and if a foreign lad is good enough, they'll add that.

"You can see what Walter Smith and Tommy Burns did with the Scotland side as soon as they took over and it will happen with Walter and Ally at Ibrox ? they're both Rangers nuts."

The Scottish Football Association had last night received no approach from Rangers and do not want to lose Smith, who has restored the national team's fortunes since he succeeded Berti Vogts, whose own tenure was another vivid example of the difficulties foreigners face when they come into the singular context of the game in Scotland. However, they will not stand in Smith's way.

Both Smith and David Taylor, the SFA's chief executive, are on holiday but the deal will be done over the weekend. Taylor sounded Smith out about a new contract on Oct 9, when Scotland were in Kiev prior to their Euro 2008 qualifier against Ukraine.

At the time Taylor said: "I think you may be sure we will be offering Walter a new contract a little further on. At the moment, still very early in the campaign, it's not the right time."

Another development yesterday is likely to see Andy Webster move from Wigan Athletic to Rangers on a loan deal until the end of the season. Webster was forced out of Tynecastle by the Hearts owner, Vladimir Romanov.

[cooper1989 0]

Danny, Cheers m8. This is getting better all the time!

[True_Blue_Gal 0]

Hey D

Thanks for the great post , hopefully this is definate

[come on the gers 0]

Danny, Cheers m8. This is getting better all the time!

Ditto, from me as well Danny.

[bluebirdmeg 0]

can only hope and pray clappiez

[True_Blue_Gal 0]

I put a post on about an exclusive i saw online and reckon that they are

[Canadaready 9,437]

So happy!

[nvager 498]

I am a happy chappie!

[True_Blue_Gal 0]

Yes me too