Walter Smith deserves a statue at Ibrox, says Rangers legend

RANGERS' legendary winger Willie Henderson believes current manager Walter Smith merits the bestowal of legendary status that a statue outside Ibrox would confer on the club's most successful post-war manager.

The topic of casting fabled figures in bronze has been set racing this week with the news that Celtic were to cast one for Jock Stein, the man who delivered them the European Cup and a run of nine consecutive titles. Smith was at the helm as Rangers equalled that championship monopoly, but Henderson considers that as much for his second spell transformation of the club, he deserves a permanent likeness to be plinthed at Ibrox.

"I think it's inevitable there will be a statue of (him] at Ibrox. Definitely," said Henderson, who spent 12 years with Rangers from 1970. "That would be something nice to mark his achievements. It would be a great tribute to the man. Look at what he has won in his two periods as manager. To have the success he's had including taking Rangers to the Uefa Cup final is fantastic.

"He has done it this season without a contract when he's been unable to buy players. You have to look at Walter being up there with the best Scottish managers there's been. I don't usually throw out accolades unless they're really due, but I really feel Walter Smith has been fantastic. In this financial climate there must have been a lot of stress in the background. But Walter is well up there. He's guided the club right through these difficult times."

On Sunday, in the Co-operative Insurance Cup final against St Mirren, Smith will be looking to guide the club to his 17th trophy success, having been number two to Graeme Souness for a league win and four league cups.

If these are added to Smith's triumphs, the total puts him in the territory of Stein, who claimed ten titles, eight Scottish Cups and six league cups. But what more apes the Celtic figure who moulded the modern-day club, is how Smith revived the domestic fortunes of his ailing club

following the ill-fated eight-month tenure of Paul Le Guen. No wonder Henderson hypes up Smith's current domestic efforts – which contrasts with a European record that is most un-Stein-like, with Rangers on a record run of 11 games without a win – in the most testing circumstances.

"Walter has brought a camaraderie to this group of players and they've only lost once this year," Henderson said. "He's done that with a squad who make Rangers fans think, 'How are we 13 points ahead in the league?' The reason is because of the work Walter Smith has done along with his backroom staff. They are getting enormous returns from those players. There are boys playing as well as they have ever done in their career.

"I like it when clubs mark the achievements of someone at the club. These people are legends in the working man's eyes. When they erect a statue it gives them something to recognise."