Source: Team_Talk
Smith fired up by Gers' title glory
But the Light Blues' double triumph and their impending Champions League campaign have given him the appetite to continue for at least another season.
The 61-year-old insists his competitive spirit remains as strong as it was during his first spell at Ibrox, when he led the club to seven successive titles.
And, on the day he confirmed Rangers hope to extend 39-year-old defender David Weir's playing career with the club, he argued that experienced managers were too often overlooked in British football.
"It's a natural thing, when you get over 60, people start asking when you will retire," Smith said. "Normally in football we don't get the choice.
"For me the success we have achieved this season has been the motivation to continue.
"If we had lost out on the league and the cup, I might not have had the option.
"If I had, obviously disappointment comes into it and I may have looked upon it in another manner.
"But getting my hands on another championship trophy and going into the Champions League is more than enough motivation to carry on."
Smith's record in his two full seasons back in charge at Ibrox proves his hunger remains intact.
Saturday's Scottish Cup win over Falkirk means he has led Rangers to four trophies and three runners-up spots.
"I think most football managers are the same," said Smith as he sat between the cup and Scottish Premier League trophies at Ibrox.
"Most that I know, if you ever play golf or any sports, want to win at everything they do.
"That competitive spirit doesn't die when you get older. It doesn't fade. It's still there and that's what keeps every one of them going.
"People are far too early to discard a lot of managers who are probably at a better stage of their career to make the right decisions and don't get the opportunity to do so."
Smith added: "Obviously as you get older and maybe more experienced you become a bit more analytical.
"Your assessment of overall situations is maybe a little bit better.
"You don't make as many instinctive decisions as you did when you were younger. On saying that, sometimes experience can inhibit you a little bit as well so you have to be careful.
"But I think, when you look around Britain in general, people are inclined to discard experienced managers.
"Look at the job Harry Redknapp and Roy Hodgson have done in England, lifting up clubs who were in a bit of a struggle.
"When you look at the fact Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger are extremely successful managers in their 60s, then I think people are maybe inclined to discard that level of experience too quickly.
"Where the body might be telling me to slow down, I still want to win at everything I do. When you have that, you are able to carry on."
Smith's experience in the transfer market will be crucial this summer as Rangers bid to come through difficult financial times.
The club made it known they were open to offers for their top players in January and accepted a £3.8million offer for Kris Boyd, who rejected a move to Birmingham.
But Smith admits the Champions League bounty of about £10million, which was guaranteed by SPL success, will allow the club to have more control over the departures.
"We still have a problem or two to adjust to in that sense, but the Champions League money is a big thing," the former Everton manager said.
"We have two players out of contract, Christian Dailly and Brahim Hemdani, and they have left the club.
"Others we will have to wait and see, they are under contract.
"We still have the circumstances to adjust to, but the decisions are more in our hands than they were if we hadn't won the league."
Smith added: "When we came back we tried to bring in younger players so we could have a base of a team that could grow with us.
"Hopefully that will be the case. We may lose one or two experienced players in the close season but the younger players I'm sure can fill that breach."
