Source: Team_Talk
Boyd: Smith future key to new deal
The striker is out of contract at the end of the season and has yet to agree a new deal, with a number of clubs south of the border reportedly interested in a possible summer swoop.With 22 goals already this season, the SPL's record-breaking scorer has once again demonstrated his importance to the cause and the Scottish champions have made no secret of their desire to retain his services.However, a question mark also hangs over Smith's future at Ibrox, with the Rangers boss and his backroom staff working without contracts since January in a bid to ease the club's financial worries.Asked whether Smith remaining at Rangers would affect his own decision to sign a new deal, Boyd admitted: "It would have a big influence in it."I've said before that he is a manager I wanted to play under and a manager who has shown faith in me."I would like to keep paying him back for showing that faith in me by scoring goals every week."We've had our fall-outs and disagreements along the way but that's part and parcel of football."He has given me the chance to play at the level I am and, if he was here, I would be delighted with that."When you see the job he has done with the finances the way they are just now, I think it's a credit to him."But the 26-year-old was reluctant to discuss his ongoing contract talks, adding: "There is a big game against St Johnstone tomorrow and that's the most important thing for me."I said weeks ago that my contract would be sorted whenever it is."The most important thing right now is to go to Perth and get the three points against St Johnstone."Boyd is back on the goal trail after spending four weeks on the sidelines recovering from a double hernia operation.He grabbed the winner against St Mirren in Wednesday's Active Nation Scottish Cup replay but claims he still has a long way to go before being back to his best."I think before I got injured I was in a rich vein of form and I've not got back to anywhere near that," said Boyd."The goals have still been coming but hopefully in the next few weeks I can get my fitness back up to where it was before the operation."And hopefully I can keep the run going in front of goal." St. Johnstone v Rangers 1st Goalscorer: Boyd, K. 3/1