Kenny Miller: There is life without Kris Boyd

Boyd ended his four-and-a-half-year association with the Scottish champions when he joined the npower Championship side on a two-year deal last week. Miller, who struck up a profitable partnership with Boyd, knows his departure will leave a void but he insists someone else now has the opportunity to make a name for themselves as Rangers' most prolific forward next term.

"Everybody in the dressing room wishes Kris all the best and we hope he does the same for Middlesbrough," Miller said. "But one door closes and another opens. There is a chance for somebody to step into his shoes and hopefully score the goals that will take us back to the title this year."

Boyd wrote his name into the history books when he replaced Celtic legend Henrik Larsson as the SPL's all-time top goalscorer last season, reaching the milestone in style with a blistering five-goal spree against Dundee United back in December. "Boydy is going to be a big miss," added Miller. "It's an incredible level, a consistent level that he showed in the time he was here. "So he is going to be missed."

Manager Walter Smith has cash to spend and may now focus his search on a new striker but Miller believes his exit has provided an opportunity for Kyle Lafferty and Steven Naismith to make their mark, as well as any new arrivals. "Both have done very well," he told Blues News. "Laff chipped in with a few important goals towards the end of last season and Naisy had a wee outing up front against Aberdeen at home. I really enjoyed it, it was one of the games I probably enjoyed the most towards the end of the season. It's an opportunity, whether we sign somebody in that position, to score the goals. It's up to us to show in pre-season what we can offer to the team to steal those two places."

Meanwhile, Smith has revealed how Ally McCoist persuaded him to remain at Rangers for another year.

The Ibrox manager, 62, admits his desk was cleared and he was ready for retirement until his backroom staff stepped in and prompted a change of heart. McCoist is poised to take over the helm when Smith does quit at the end of the forthcoming campaign but he helped convince the veteran boss not to walk away at the end of last season.

Smith said: "I decided to stay after speaking to everyone involved, especially Ally McCoist, Kenny McDowall, Ian Durrant and the other boys as much as anything. They made me change my mind. I had emptied my office so I was going. Then we sat down and took into account all the things that were going on at the club. They were happy for me to stay for another year. That affected me more than anything.

"Their enthusiasm was the deciding factor for me.

Their impact is more important to me than anyone else because it keeps me going as much as the players."z