Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
‘No’ that had Smith
Walter pain as McLean rejected Rangers
WALTER Smith didn’t speak to Jim McLean for days when McLean rejected the chance to replace John Greig as Rangers manager in 1983.
Smith, who died on Monday at the age of 73, would have walked barefooted from Tannadice to Ibrox for the chance to join his beloved Rangers.
Thinking his chance of fulfilling a boyhood dream had gone forever, Smith was understandably distraught.
Smith started his coaching career under McLean in 1977 and was his right-hand man when United won the Premier Division in 1983.
The Rangers board turned to McLean in the tumultuous autumn of 1983 when Greig was sacked following a five-year spell in charge.
The Ibrox club thought they’d lured Alex Ferguson away from Aberdeen, only for an 11th-hour about turn by their target.
Then McLean was offered the position.
He initially indicated his willingness to leave Tannadice for Ibrox and even invited Smith to remain his number two and join him.
Then came the change of mind – despite an offer to double his wages.
McLean was sorely tempted but decided not to expose his family to the goldfish-bowl existence that came with the job.
Rangers striker Derek Johnstone was sitting on his own in the dressing room during a month’s loan spell from Chelsea when Smith burst in – and lost the rag.
“He was obviously in a bad mood,” said Johnstone.
“He threw down a bag of balls and said: ‘I guess I’ll just have to put the scarf back in the cupboard’. He went on to explain United boss Jim McLean had just turned down the offer to replace John Greig as Rangers manager.
“Walter was all ready to move with him to his boyhood idols, so no wonder he was annoyed.”
Johnstone’s first encounter with Smith was at Tannadice in 1967 when he was invited to train with United’s part-timers while he was still at Linlathen High.
Johnstone was soon signed by Rangers in 1968 and crossed paths with Smith more than once on the pitch.
During Johnstone’s month at Tannadice, he saw enough of Smith’s coaching ability to realise he’d make it to Ibrox on his own one day.
“That spell at Tannadice really opened my eyes, “said Johnstone.
“Walter took most of the coaching at United and he really knew what he was talking about. Everything was geared towards technique, whereas I’d been used to everything being geared towards fitness under big Jock Wallace at Ibrox.
“Right away I knew I was experiencing a great coach in the making. Walter treated everyone as individuals and knew how to bring the best out of players.”
Eventually, Rangers had to bring back Jock Wallace, who had led the club to two trebles in three seasons in the 1970s.
Wallace never came close to attaining the same success second time around.
In 1986 Graeme Souness was named Rangers’ first playermanager and appointed Smith as his number two.
Souness had won five league titles, three European Cups and four League Cups with Liverpool by the time he moved on to Sampdoria in 1984.
Souness was still contracted to the Italian side and Smith took charge of Rangers for the final three league fixtures of the 198586 season.
Smith’s first game as caretaker turned out to be Johnstone’s 547th and last outing for Rangers following his return for a second spell in 1985.
“We lost 2-1 to St Mirren at Love Street and Walter was furious,” said Johnstone.
“He had just arrived from Dundee United as assistant manager and was in charge until Graeme Souness could get away from Sampdoria. I’ll never forget Walter blowing his top at time up. The result left us well adrift of Celtic, Hearts, Dundee United and Aberdeen, who were all fighting for the title.