Source: Team_Talk
Smith dismisses British Prem idea
Rangers will participate in the Emirates Cup this weekend - opening the four-team pre-season tournament at Arsenal's stadium against Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday.
After a disappointing European week for Scottish teams, Rangers could be the country's only representative in the Champions League - and Smith is hoping this weekend's tournament, which also involves Arsenal and Atletico Madrid, will help them prepare for their own Euro campaign.
But the subject of Rangers and Celtic becoming part of the Premier set-up south of the border continues to be a major talking point - and Smith has clearly defined views on the matter.
"I would love to see it happen, because it would be of enormous benefit to both clubs," said Smith.
"But I don't know whether English teams, in the end, would vote for that. I don't think they would.
"I remember being at Everton once where it was asked at a board meeting, and the directors said there would be no chance of it happening.
"That would be the case in most boardrooms, because Rangers and Celtic would not come down here to be middle-of-the-league clubs.
"After a bedding-in period they would be among the challengers. I think that would be apparent to most English clubs, and that is why I don't think we will get the opportunity."
The Champions League remains one of the biggest priorities for Rangers - but captain David Weir does not believe there is a crisis in Scottish football following Euro setbacks for Motherwell, Aberdeen and Celtic this week.
"I don't think Scottish football is as bad as we seem to paint it," said Weir.
"Celtic came down last week and beat a strong Tottenham side, so it can't be too bad.
"You have to put it into perspective. One or two bad results in one week don't make a crisis. Scottish clubs have been relatively successful in Europe in recent years.
"Last week's results were not great and don't paint Scottish football in a particularly great light, but there is no need to revamp the whole system on them."
Smith accepts the fact that the pressure is always going to be on Rangers to do as well as they can in the Champions League - but he relishes their underdog status.
"Clubs like Rangers, the pressure is on to do well in all the tournaments we play in," he said.
"The Champions League takes us out of an environment where Celtic and we are the biggest sides in the country. We then enter an environment where we are the underdogs - and we have to accept that.
"There has been a rise in the standard of the Champions League in the last few seasons. The big clubs have the best teams and squads. It is going to be a very difficult challenge, and we will accept it.
"It is a big platform to play on and we showed we could acquit ourselves well the last time we were there. We hope we will do so again."
