Players aren't good enough to be sold on, says Steven Smith

Published on Wednesday 2 December 2009 22:23

STEVEN Smith claims there should be no fears over a mass exodus from Rangers in January – because no-one is playing well enough to earn a move elsewhere.

The financial plight of the Scottish champions has led to predictions that key personnel will be offloaded in the next transfer window to help balance the books. But Smith believes the players' only concern should be producing results on the pitch again after crashing out of Europe and falling off top spot in the SPL last week.

The Ibrox left-back said: "The financial situation at the club has been highlighted but, as players, we can't think about that.

"When you're playing as poorly as we are, I don't think any of us will be good enough to move on if we don't start playing better football than what we're doing.

"The players don't speak about what's happening. The fans speak about it, they are worried about the club's future and stuff like that. But, as players, we've got to concentrate on playing football, that's what we are getting paid for. We need to turn up on a Saturday and do more than we're doing at the moment."

Smith's contract is set to expire at the end of this season and he has no idea whether he has a long-term future at the club.

But he said: "For me, it's not a concern and hopefully the other players don't find it a concern. When you go out on a Saturday, the biggest concern is the match you are playing in not your contract situation or where you are going to be in January. We've got to stick together and start winning football matches again."

Smith has struggled to force his way into the manager's plans this season and he added: "Of course my first choice would be to stay here. I've grown up here and I've never been anywhere else so it's natural for me to be here.

"The biggest thing is playing football and I would rather be in this situation where I've got a chance of doing it rather than where I was two years ago with the injuries when I had no chance. I've worked hard to get to this point and I need to work a little bit harder to get in the team."

Defeat to Aberdeen at the weekend saw Rangers surrender pole position in the SPL and slip to second spot behind rivals Celtic.

And Smith has revealed how manager Walter Smith provided his players with a reminder of what they are capable of as they attempt to retain their crown.

"We all got our league winners' medals this morning from last season and I think that's an indication of why people want to play for this club," he said. "They want to win trophies and I'm no different from any of them.

"The manager handed out the medals this morning and I don't know if it was a reminder that we did win the league last year and that we worked hard to win it and all that good work goes to waste if we don't win it again.

"I don't know if the medals did just come this morning or if it was mind games by the manager. But it was a nice reminder to everyone that we did win the league last year even though we were seven points behind, there are a lot of winners in that dressing room and that's why we are at the club."

Meanwhile, Kirk Broadfoot may have taken his first steps towards a Rangers first-team return but he has refused to put a timescale on his comeback.

The defender has been out since aggravating a foot injury in the Co-operative Insurance Cup final defeat to Celtic last March.

The 25-year-old played 45 minutes of a closed-doors game against Ayr United at Murray Park yesterday.

Broadfoot said: "I can't set a target for getting back in the first team because I might feel I'm ready but the manager doesn't.

"So for now I'm happy with reserve games and when the coaches do decide I'm ready to be part of the first team I'll be delighted." He added: "It's been a long time coming and I wasn't really expecting to play against Ayr.

"The last few weeks have been really hard and I've been doing probably the toughest training of my life.

"I've been running all day every day and I had a hard day training the day before the game and came in from that and was told I would be playing.

"I wasn't about to turn round and say no because I was happy to be involved and it was good to get 45 minutes under my belt.

"It's good to get a taste of it again and although the first game back always feels a little different, once you get it out of the way you can kick on from there.

"All the work has been about getting back to play and I just hope now that I don't have any reaction after the game and I can go and train with the boys again.

"There have been highs and lows along the way because it's a strange injury but hopefully this is the end of it now."