Source: Team_Talk
Smith denies Rangers hypocrisy
Walter Smith has hit back at claims of hypocrisy by Kilmarnock chairman Michael Johnston and told him to look closer to home.[LNB] Smith had spoken out following their goalless draw against Manchester United in the Champions League on Tuesday, when he criticised UEFA for not doing enough to bridge the financial gulf between Europe's elite and clubs in smaller countries, like Rangers, who now struggle to compete on the continent.[LNB]Johnston, speaking in a newspaper article on Friday, responded to those comments by claiming the Old Firm were guilty of perpetuating a similar scenario in the Scottish Premier League.[LNB]"That's the way it is, there is no hypocrisy about it," said Smith.[LNB]"Clubs like Rangers and Celtic, we take the onus in terms of trying to fly the flag for Scotland, if you like, in a European sense.[LNB]"That's only right that we do that, we are the biggest clubs and we take that responsibility. I don't see any hypocrisy.[LNB]"He can say whatever he likes and he says quite a lot actually. At the end of the day, the situation has developed and we've got to try to do something about it.[LNB]"If he's happy with the way Scottish football is at the present moment, then he's in the wrong job.[LNB]"That's just where we are. Somebody, somewhere, has got to do something to try to help Scottish clubs, or smaller clubs in European countries, gain a level of finance that will help them compete.[LNB]"Otherwise, we have what we have at the moment, where people start criticising our level of football, our co-efficient drops down and we don't get the numbers of teams competing in Europe."[LNB]Kilmarnock's own financial worries have been well-documented in recent years but Smith suggested decisions taken by Johnston, himself, have been a contributory factor.[LNB]The Ayrshire side were one of several SPL clubs who voted in favour of a new Setanta deal in 2008, with only Rangers, Celtic and Aberdeen in favour of a rival bid from British Sky Broadcasting.[LNB]"Was the Kilmarnock chairman one of the people who agreed to the Setanta deal?" asked Smith.[LNB]"I don't know whether he was or whether he wasn't. But if he was, why is he still in a decision-making position in Scotland?[LNB]"He had the chance to get money from Sky TV and didn't take it. He took Setanta and it was the wrong move and it cost him a fortune.[LNB]"If he wants to turn around and say there is hypocrisy from the statements that I've made, he should maybe look at his own self more than anything else."[LNB]Smith pointed to large scorelines in the Champions League this week - such as Arsenal's 6-0 win over Braga - as an example of the disparity which exists between clubs in the competition.[LNB]And he will also be well aware that a similar crushing defeat may have been the fate of his own team had he not employed the defensive tactics in Manchester that have drawn criticism in some quarters for being too negative.[LNB]"You are always going to receive a little bit of criticism - but it was a little bit," said Smith.[LNB]"I don't think there was a great deal of criticism. People in England, especially those who work at Manchester United, are used to that scenario.[LNB]"You always play the game in the way you feel is best for your club and that's it."[LNB]Rangers are set to revert back to a more attacking formation for tomorrow's visit of Dundee United, as they attempt to maintain the 100% record which helped Smith and Kenny Miller pick up the Clydesdale Bank Premier League manager and player of the month awards for August.[LNB]"It's always nice to get the awards during the season," said the Rangers boss.[LNB]"It means you are going through a good spell when you get them. Fortunately for ourselves, we have managed to win the first four games.[LNB]"We are satisfied with that but we could play a bit better than we have done so far.[LNB]"I would hope we would start to get up and running and I'm sure we will do because the importance of the games start to increase as we go on."
