David Weir: 'If Walter wants me next season, I'm here for him'

Published on Saturday 30 May 2009 23:30

IT WAS a special day for me in all sorts of ways yesterday. I made a promise to my boys Lucas, who'll be nine on Monday, and his seven-year-old brother Jensen that if we won they could come on the Hampden pitch with me to celebrate us doing the double. They have been on a pitch with me before, at Everton when they were much younger, but it was lovely to have them with me after their dad had just helped his team win a trophy.

It's just incredible to think that in the past two-and-a-half years I've now won four medals, and been captain of Rangers when we have reclaimed our championship and added the Scottish Cup to it. When, in January 2007, I became the first player to come to the club as Walter (Smith] began his second spell, we were 17 points behind Celtic, out of both cups and the club was at a low ebb.

The manager has been responsible for a massive turnaround since then. Six out of the past four trophies have come the club's way, and if tiredness hadn't caught up with us, we might have added last year's title to that total. He is a great man and one of the greatest managers in the club's history. There would have been something wrong if we hadn't wanted him to stay and, for Rangers sake, I am delighted he has announced he will be leading the club next season. The nature of football is that, if you are winning, it engenders stability, and if you don't it can go the other way. You just have to look at the fact that three of the managers in the top six SPL sides have gone in the past week to know that.

I haven't spoken to Walter about what his thoughts are as regards me staying on. If he wants me, I'm here. I have family considerations, with my wife and children based down south, but I will be able to deal with those if there is the offer of a new contract. Whatever happens, there won't be any problems. I understand the club's situation. But everyone knows how much I enjoy playing for the club I supported and it would a source of pride to lead them into a Champions League campaign.

I'm told I played more games for the club than any other player this season, but it is playing good games that counts. I would like to think I have contributed to a successful season, and certainly feel no physical after-affects from it. I won't even be heading straight for rest and relaxation because for the next week or so I will be working towards completing my A licence. It hasn't always been easy fitting in time for my coaching badges, but eventually I hope to take the pro licence. They say that means you can coach anywhere in the world. I've always thought you can only coach anywhere you are offered a job to do so.

I'd like to think those post-playing days are still far enough in the future to appear remote but we don't know what the summer holds. There has been much talk that yesterday might have been Barry (Ferguson's] last game. I don't know anything about that. If it was, that's sad but it would also have been a good way to go out. Even if we didn't play well.

The truth be told, Falkirk deserved more, and were the better team. By saying that, I am not dishing out platitudes or being patronising towards my friend John Hughes and a former club I retain affection for. I'm just telling it like it is. We were flat, after being on such a high when winning the league last Sunday. There were no excuses for that. But Falkirk deserve credit for the fact we struggled, especially in terms of how they played in the first half.

The manager changed it at half time, but great as he is, he couldn't have envisaged Nacho Novo coming on and having that sort of impact he did within 30 seconds. That is Nacho for you, though. You bring him on to change things and he can certainly do that. I don't know if it was the best goal I have seen him score for the club – he hit a great one against Dundee United last season – but it was a fitting cup winner.