Source: Team_Talk
Miller: No slacking from Gers
Kenny Miller insists there is no chance of Rangers' players slacking off in Walter Smith's final season in charge.[LNB] Smith this week confirmed he would retire at the end of next term after signing a new one-year contract at Ibrox.[LNB]The 62-year-old's pronouncement is similar to that made by Sir Alex Ferguson when he revealed he would step down as Manchester United manager at the end of the 2001-02 season.[LNB]United's form plummeted and they did not win a trophy that year.[LNB]It was the same story in Smith's last season of his first spell in charge of Rangers, when they failed to complete an unprecedented 10 Scottish titles in a row and finished the campaign empty-handed.[LNB]But Scotland striker Miller said in the News of the World: "There's no way we will slip into bad ways next season just because we know the gaffer is leaving.[LNB]"What happened at Manchester United when Sir Alex Ferguson did something similar is Manchester United's business. It's got nothing to do with us.[LNB]"There's no way the kind of quality players United have would ever down tools - and we're the same. As far as I'm concerned, there is absolutely no comparison between the two situations."[LNB]The big difference between the situation at United and Smith's first spell at Ibrox is that the players already know assistant manager Ally McCoist will succeed his mentor.[LNB]Miller, who also lauded Smith for having the courage to bring him back to Rangers despite his spell at Celtic, added: "By publicly stating his long-term plans, Walter has taken away any element of doubt.[LNB]"There is no uncertainty about the future. Ally McCoist will become Rangers manager when Walter goes, so there's not going to be any major upheaval. We have plenty of time to get our heads round this.[LNB]"Ally has worked with the gaffer for the last five years for club and country and has learned a great deal from him. He also knows his methods inside out.[LNB]"If we had no idea who was coming in to replace Walter Smith, there may have been a problem but we know exactly what the bigger picture is now."
