Hughes pays tribute to ever-helpful 'godfather' Smith

Published on Saturday 30 May 2009 01:04

JOHN Hughes and Walter Smith will be going all out to get the better of each other this afternoon when, as managers of Falkirk and Rangers respectively, they meet in the Scottish Cup final. But while he knows that Smith will be trying to thwart him on this occasion, Hughes regards the Ibrox manager as one of the most helpful people in Scottish football.

"We'll give Rangers all the respect they deserve," he said when asked how he planned to approach the game. "As for Walter Smith, he's the godfather after what he's done for Rangers, winning nine in a row and then coming back and succeeding again.

"The reason I say that is when I was a young man coming into the game and working my way up he was always very complimentary to me about how I was doing the job. Mind you, he could afford to be complimentary because most of the time he's picked up the three points! However, he's always willing to give advice."

Now 45, Hughes has been in management since 2003, when he and Owen Coyle took joint charge of Falkirk, initially as player-managers. His preparations for becoming a coach began far earlier, however, as he was always a keen student of the game. Yet, while naturally inclined to learn from anyone willing to impart knowledge, Hughes found Smith to be more willing and more enlightening than perhaps anyone else he has come across.

"I was privileged to hear him when he came down to our stadium to do a session for coaches, like me, who were studying for their Uefa Pro licence," he continued.

"Honestly, I could have sat there and listened to him all day as he spoke about all the pitfalls of being a manager, what he went through, how he started off and what to look out for. It was fantastic of him to share those experiences with the whole class."

&#149 Bookmakers William Hill have predicted that up to 1 million will be gambled on today's Scottish Cup final between Rangers and Falkirk.

Rangers are the overwhelming 1/7 favourites with Hills to retain the trophy and do the league and cup double this afternoon, and 2/7 to win the match in 90 minutes. Falkirk are 4-1 to lift the trophy, and 15-2 to win over 90 minutes.

The newly-crowned SPL champions have also been given short odds of 1/3 to lift the trophy by Boylesports and 2/7 with McBookie, with the Bairns regarded as rank outsiders at 12/1 to win by Boylesports and 11/1 with McBookie.

Odds of 10/3 are available on a draw at the end of regulation time and Hills are confident that the showpiece final will attract more bets than any other in the whole campaign. "We are optimistic that this will be the biggest betting game of the Scottish season with up to 1 million gambled on the final," said Hills spokesman Graham Sharpe.

The SPL's top scorer, Kris Boyd, has scored in the last three matches against Falkirk, and Hills are offering 8/13 on Boyd to score, with a Boyd hat-trick at 12/1. Boyd has also been made favourite to score the first goal, at 3/1 from Scotbet. Strike partner Kenny Miller is 9/2, while Falkirk's Steve Lovell is at 9/1.