Ferguson says Busby-type role at Ibrox would be ideal for Smith

Published on Saturday 20 November 2010 13:29

MANCHESTER UNITED manager Alex Ferguson believes Walter Smith should become Rangers' version of Sir Matt Busby when his friend brings to an end more than 14 years as manager and assistant at Ibrox.

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• High praise: Ferguson has hailed Smith's success in winning back-to-back titles. Photograph: Andrew Yates

The 62-year-old Smith has consistently said he will cut his ties with Rangers next summer to allow No.2 Ally McCoist to step up without distractions, but last week revealed for the first time that retirement is not on his agenda.

That has led to speculation Smith will seek a new management challenge in England or abroad, but Ferguson considers any such moves unsuitable and that it would be a wrench for Smith to leave his beloved Rangers.

Speaking ahead of United's Champions League visit to Ibrox on Wednesday that could pit him against Smith for the final time, Ferguson's view is that should businessmen Craig Whyte's interest in Rangers lead to him buying the club, Rangers should look to harness Smith's qualities in a new role.

United did so when European Cup winner and colossal figure Busby was made general manager on retiring from coaching in 1969. His continued presence was said by his immediate successors to prove inhibiting, with the great man latterly made club president, a position he held until his death in 1994. Ferguson, however, maintains that he only gained from having Busby around when coming to the club in 1986 and that McCoist would do likewise with Smith, were his mentor to remain at Ibrox.

"It is difficult with Walter because, as I say about players at Rangers and Celtic, where do you go?" Ferguson said. "Rangers are his club. Most of his management life has been there. I am not privy at all, but a national team manager's job somewhere? Because of his age, his experience, he's achieved everything he'll have wanted to achieve at club level and that kind of experience helps as a national team manager but I'm not sure he would want to be one of these managers who goes and works with African nations or Middle East clubs. I don't think that is Walter's cup of tea.

"Maybe, if the Rangers takeover happens, there is that position as general manager, or something like that. I would think that Rangers should be looking to keep Walter in some capacity. I think Walter has already said that Ally is going to take over. That's fine. Ally has the experience now of working under Walter, he's been a Rangers player so he knows the club, has had that apprenticeship under Walter.

"I don't think that (idea of him breathing down his neck] would be a problem for Ally McCoist because Walter has done his term. He's done his bit. Anything that Walter could do for Ally would be absolutely without any hint of jealousy or 'I've been here, I'm the man, I've been the manager and I'm going to interfere'.

"For me, I had that situation for years with Matt. Every other manager that followed him, other people said Matt was in the road. I never felt that. Not to me was he a handicap. I thought it was great to have him about the place.

"Willie Waddell did his bit with Rangers with Jock Wallace. I don't think that interfered with Jock in any way. There were other reasons for leaving the job. I don't see that as a problem for Ally McCoist."