Walter’s always been there for me.. his advice is gold dust and he’ll be honest with me - even after a good result

SAYS STEVEN GERRARD

There’s a section of the Rangers support who would take Walter Smith back as manager next season.

That’s what the fear of suffering the unthinkable can do.

To many, seeing Celtic win 10 titles in a row is simply not an option.

And for them, the legendary figure of Smith is the only guy who can stop it happening.

But after two successful stints as Ibrox boss already, it’s highly unlikely that the 72-year-old would take over.

If or when Steven Gerrard vacates the hotseat.

So for now, those punters will have to settle for Smith acting as a mentor to the current gaffer as he tries to drag his team off the floor.

Gerrard isn’t going anywhere in a hurry.

In fact, at Friday’s press conference, he was utterly convinced that Rangers’ domestic form WILL take a turn for the better today at Ross County.

But Gerrard is humble enough to admit that he needs help. And in the background, since he took the job, Smith has been there for him.

Even after good results, he’s brought the former Liverpool captain back down to earth when required.

And now, in his most difficult time as Rangers manager so far, Gerrard will look to Smith for guidance again.

As he prepared for the trip to Dingwall this afternoon, he said: “I’ve had chats with Walter from day one and he’s obviously someone who’s been around the block and got the T-shirt.

“Things are different now in my reign compared to when he was manager.

“But he’s a guy who’s been honest with me since I took the job. Even after a good game, Walter is the type of person who won’t just talk about the good stuff.

“His advice so far has been absolute gold dust and will continue to be. I genuinely think that he wants to help and support me and this club.

“You can hear his love for Rangers when you speak to him. He’s still as passionate now as he was when I looked up to him from the outside.

“It’s quite possible that I’ll speak to him this week. The last message I gave him was to wish him happy birthday not that long ago.

“But if you’re asking, is he there for me and will he be there for me this week? I’m sure he will be if I need it.”

Gerrard has enough on his plate without becoming embroiled in the online rumours and theories as to why his team have capitulated since December 29.

From the outside, it’s easy to see why the general opinion is that something went wrong on the club’s winter break in Dubai.

After beating Celtic at Parkhead to effectively go to the top of the league, they now trai l the Hoops by an incredible 16 points before heading to the Highlands today.

For the first time, Gerrard confessed that after the high of winning at Parkhead – and the relief that came with it – his players have struggled to find the same level of intensity. But any suggestions of negative vibes coming from the Dubai training camp were shot down by the manager.

He said: “Last summer, I reflected on the season before – where we had come up short, where we could be better.

“The problem was definitely our consistency and for the first six months of this season, I felt it was there.

“I saw a real hungry squad and, with the results we’d worked ever so hard to get, we went into the break on a wave of confidence.

“We were in a fantastic place and there were no signs of complacency.

“In Dubai, we continued to relay the same message of taking each game as it comes.

“But sometimes in footbal l , things come out of the blue and smack you in the face.

“That’s the reason I say: ‘Once we get through this period’. Because we will get through it.

“We will look back on this period and can use the word complacent – but know we can’t go back there.

“Did the players get to that point of elation at Celtic Park and feel a sense of relief that they’d done it?

“There could be an element of that.

“There was definitely relief in the dressing room that day because we’d won there for the first time in a long time.

“There had been a lot of hurt and pain there prior to that.

“But now, we just have to stick together and pull in the right direction

WALTER WISDOM legend Smith has offered his advice to Gerrard again. I genuinely believe we’ll get through it quicker than some people on the outside think.”

Question marks remain over some of Gerrard’s big-name players and it remains to be seen if any of his regulars wil l be axed after sub- standard performances, like the midweek home defeat by Hamilton.

The manager has also been criticised for fai l ing to make signif icant changes to his system and their style of play during their current domestic rut.

But after 20 months of progression for a 39-yearold rookie boss, Gerrard isn’t about to revamp what he’s done to this point. Instead, he’s

I’ve had chats with Walter from day one and he’s obviously someone who has been around the block and got the