Walter’s already spoken – Derek’s themanforGers

WHEN Walter Smith speaks, Rangers people usually listen. Unless you were the Ibrox board back in March.

Regarded as one of Scottish football’s Godfathers, his opinions on the current state of his former club are rarer than the Ibrox wins he witnessed under Pedro Caixinha this season.

And that’s why his backing of Derek McInnes seven months ago should have been enough for Dave King and his cohort of directors to take notice.

In the Sky Sports studio ahead of Rangers’ Scottish Cup clash with Hamilton last season, Smith gave unequivocal support for his former pupil when invited for his thoughts on the best man for the vacant position after Mark Warburton’s departure.

Smith said: “I’d like someone who was going to bring a level of success to the club. I would like to see Derek take the opportunity to do that.

“I had him as a player and as a manager he has done a good job wherever he is. He went to Bristol and had some problems but has come back to Aberdeen, four years there, and brought stability to the club.

“He’s adapted to what he’s got and I don’t think Rangers would go far wrong in attempting to get Derek.”

Asked about Caixinha, Smith quickly passed David Tanner on to Neil McCann who explained his scepticism. Every fear the now Dundee boss had turned out to be right.

Smith’s silence on this occasion spoke volumes.

His message was clear: Don’t gamble on Caixinha, McInnes is your man. But he was ignored and Rangers paid the price with Caixinha axed after seven shambolic months.

Now there’s a chance to make amends. Little has changed since Smith spoke in March, if anything the case for McInnes has strengthened. He again led Aberdeen to second in the league, ahead of Rangers, including a first win at Ibrox in 26 years.

The Reds have made another solid start to the Premiership campaign despite a 3-0 midweek defeat to Celtic – but few would hold that against him given the Hoops’ scintillating performance.

Of all candidates, the Aberdeen boss represents the lowest risk. He ticks almost every box – ex-player, knowledge of the Scottish game, track record of success, an eye for a player and an ability to work with limited resources.

Given the resources likely to be available, no manager is going to be able to close the gap to Celtic in the short term.

But what McInnes has shown himself capable of doing is finishing best of the rest. And that is all Rangers need right now.

He can be for Rangers

The Dons boss is the lowest risk – and ticks almost every box

now what Tommy Burns was for Celtic during the Light Blues’ nine in a row run in edging them closer if not necessarily the man to turn them into champions.

He will cost a hefty compensation fee but in the long run would save them. Despite signing a contract until 2020 after snubbing Sunderland in the summer, McInnes can’t achieve much more at Aberdeen.

With Brendan Rodgers already backing him for the Scotland job, he has earned the chance at a move to a bigger club.

And if King is looking for advice he only needs to pick up the phone to Smith to find out why McInnes is his man.