Weir wants Smith back in football

Published: 09 Sep 2011 - 10:00:20

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Rangers captain David Weir insists it is a "tragedy" Walter Smith's vast experience of football is no longer being utilised and claims his old boss still has plenty to offer the game.

Veteran manager Smith quit the Scottish champions at the end of last season following his second spell at the Ibrox helm. He has since hinted he may be willing to return to a role in football if the right opportunity arose and Weir is adamant the 63-year-old's skills should be exploited in some capacity.

"There is definitely a position for him. I don't think he should have gone out of the game, that was my opinion," said Weir.

"He's got too much knowledge and too much experience for it not to be utilised in football, wherever it may be. For that resource not to be used by somebody is a tragedy really.

"The sooner he gets back involved in football the better as far as I'm concerned. I'm sure that won't be too long - if he wants to come back."

Weir, 41, has refused to call time on his playing career just yet, despite being sidelined since the end of July with a hamstring injury.

But the centre-half has set his sights on following in the footsteps of Smith by embarking on a career in management when his playing days are over.

He said: "I definitely want to be involved in football in some way because I've enjoyed it so much and I can't really see myself doing anything else. Hopefully I've gained a bit of experience and knowledge with regards to football and hopefully I can pass that on.

"Football is difficult, it's a different job going into coaching and management, but I've been able to learn from a lot of good people and work with good people. My priority is still playing and I don't want to get away from that, I want to give that 100% of my effort and do that to the best of my ability for as long as I can.

"Obviously that won't last forever and, when it does finally finish, I've not got any set guidelines on what I want to do. I just know that I want to be involved in football because I love it so much."