Source: Team_Talk
Smith: Coaches deserve new deals
The Gers boss and his backroom staff of Ally McCoist and Kenny McDowall are all now working without the security of a contract after their deals expired this week.[LNB]The decision was taken to ease the financial pressure on the Scottish champions as they continue their search for a new owner.[LNB]But, while claiming at this stage of his career a lack of a contract is not a big issue, he feels McCoist and McDowall both deserve some recognition for their efforts.[LNB]He said: "With the success the club has had over the last two or three years, you would have thought Ally McCoist and Kenny McDowall more than anyone else deserved a situation where they got a contract.[LNB]"For me, it's not a major factor, but for them, it's a big thing.[LNB]"It was a huge decision to make and they are the ones I feel for more than anything else because, under any other circumstances, they would surely have had an opportunity to get a new contract."[LNB]Reflecting on the last three years as he celebrates the anniversary of his return to the Ibrox helm, Smith said with a smile: "It's been interesting. We've had a lot of highs and we have had a few lows as well.[LNB]"I suppose, when we took over, we were something like 17 points behind Celtic and third in the league. We had to win our games to qualify for the Champions League.[LNB]"Then we had a turnaround in fortunes and had a tremendous season when we just lost out in the UEFA Cup final and the league on the last day of the season in what was a very congested end to the season.[LNB]"The next year, we lost to Kaunas (in Champions League qualifying), which was only to be expected when you come so far without really changing the overall foundation of the club.[LNB]"But there have been a lot of highs and I have thoroughly enjoyed it, it's been terrific. The one or two lows that we've had are still major disappointments but overall I've enjoyed the three years.[LNB]"It's been a bit of a challenge, especially in the current circumstances that we're in."[LNB]Smith, meanwhile, insists he is not even contemplating the prospect of having to find a replacement for Boyd if the striker quits Rangers this month.[LNB]"That's a circumstance that we are not thinking about at the moment," he said.[LNB]"We have made the offer in the hope that we can get Kris to sign a contract so we haven't really thought about that scenario so far."[LNB][LNB]
