Source: Team_Talk
Smith's Gers future vital - Thomson
Kevin Thomson insists manager Walter Smith could be Rangers' most important signing of the summer.[LNB] The midfielder believes a guarantee that the veteran boss will be at the helm next term could prompt several players to commit their own futures to the club.[LNB]Smith, 62, has yet to decide whether to remain at Ibrox and defend the SPL title, as Rangers prepare to face what could be a summer of uncertainty at the club.[LNB]Prospective buyer Andrew Ellis says his interest remains ongoing but no takeover appears to be on the cards just yet, with several players out of contract.[LNB]Kris Boyd, David Weir, Nacho Novo, Kirk Broadfoot, DaMarcus Beasley and Steven Smith all see their current deals expire this month, with Boyd and Weir likely to be among those Rangers would hope to retain the services of.[LNB]Thomson told Rangers News: "Whenever somebody comes in to buy the club, I hope they sort the manager out first because he is our biggest asset.[LNB]"After that, if they can get him tied down, there will be a real buzz at the club and I'd imagine that would entice some of the boys to stick around.[LNB]"How many players we then need to bring in isn't for me to say because I'm not the manager.[LNB]"I'm pretty sure that, in the last couple of transfer windows, the manager would have liked to bring in resources if he was able to do so.[LNB]"It's unfortunate he hasn't been able to but, if some boys are moving on and others are out of contract with different options, we are going to need new faces."[LNB]Meanwhile, the midfielder is relishing the prospect of another crack at the Champions League.[LNB]The club's adventures in Europe proved to be the only blip in an otherwise successful campaign which saw them retain the SPL title and claim the Co-operative Insurance Cup.[LNB]The result which stood out above all others was a shock 4-1 defeat to Romanian side Unirea Urziceni at Ibrox, while Smith's side also shipped four goals against Sevilla and finished bottom of their group.[LNB]Rangers now have the chance to make amends after clinching the SPL title and securing their place in the lucrative group stages for the new campaign.[LNB]"Going from reaching the UEFA Cup final a couple of years ago to struggling in the competition this time around was tough," said Thomson.[LNB]"Like everything else in football, you always get another opportunity to make your mark and next season we will be in the group stages again.[LNB]"It's going to be exciting for us and we are looking forward to trying to put things right and hopefully giving a better account of ourselves.[LNB]"It's exciting to be back in there again and it's kind of like a fairytale. We're under no illusions and we know it'll be hard but we'll give it our best."[LNB]
