McCoist To Replace Walter Smith At Rangers Next Year
After a few months of speculation it has finally been confirmed that Walter Smith will stay on as a Rangers Manager for just one more season before handing over the reigns to Ally McCoist and Kenny McDowall this time next year. Smith has been working without a contract at Ibrox since January with the club looking for new investment but he has now signed a one-year deal to remain at the Scottish Champions. Smith has been hugely successful during his two spells at Ibrox with no less than nine League titles to his name, he returned to the club in 2007 and has delivered back-to-back titles and will no doubt want to leave the club by securing a hat trick next season.
Not only will it be Smith’s last season in charge of Rangers, but it will be his last in football Management as we are set to see the final chapter for one of the most successful British Managers in history. He has won every honour in Scottish Football as a Manager and McCoist will have a tough act to follow next year when he takes over, he has been the Assistant at Ibrox for a while now though and is clearly itching to take over the No.1 spot at his favourite club. McCoist is a hero at Rangers for his goalscoring feats in the 90′s but that will count for nothing if the team struggle under his management, Celtic are rebuilding this Summer with a new Manager and will be absolutely desperate to wrestle the title back from Rangers, both Smith this season and McCoist next will need to be wary of the threat from across Glasgow.
Smith has done an excellent job at Rangers over the past 18 months with virtually no new players coming into the squad, the club have amassed huge debts meaning that Smith has only been concentrating on working with the players he has at his disposal. That will be the case once again next season with the Champions League now a big priority for the outgoing Manager, Rangers have struggled in European competition in recent years and Smith will want to make a better impression during his final year in charge. Of course there is always a risk to announcing a departure ahead of time, if the team struggle at the start of next season then no doubt Smith’s departure will be blamed and the former Scottish Manager could be forced out earlier than expected. That does not appear to be a worry for Smith though, he seems relieved that his future has finally been sorted out and the 62-year-old will be looking to enjoy every last minute of his last season in mangement.
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