Walter Smith hails player of the year David Weir as 'best professional I have worked with'

The 39-year-old Rangers captain will become the oldest player to receive the Scottish Football Writers' Association award since its inception 45 years ago.

Smith yesterday paid Weir the highest possible compliment when he labelled him as the finest professional he has ever encountered in his coaching and managerial career.

It is not the kind tribute Smith would make glibly, having worked with countless outstanding players through the years with Dundee United, Rangers, Everton, Manchester United and Scotland. But having signed Weir for both Everton and Rangers, as well as tempting him out of international retirement when in charge of his country, Smith has no hesitation in singling out the defender for special praise.

"I have always shied away from making comparisons between players," said Smith. "But Davie is the best professional I have worked with.

"He has played every minute of every league match for us this season and is now player of the year, which is pretty remarkable considering he will be 40 on Monday. He has been fantastic in the three-and-a-half years he has been here. He has hardly missed a training session in that time. He is a credit to his profession. You read a lot about the more extravagant sides of footballers, but he is one who is in it for football.

"He loves his football, he loves being involved, he loves playing. The way he has conducted himself and the way he has played has been fantastic."

Smith's decision to make Weir his first signing for Rangers when he returned to the club in January 2007 has proved inspired, although the manager insists he deserves no credit for it.

"I thought he was coming here just for a few months, but here he still is," smiled Smith. "I didn't make the decision to take him here feeling he would be here for three-and-a-half years. I thought the four months between the January and the end of the season in 2007 would be enough for him. It turns out to have been a terrific decision, but that is down to Davie rather than me. He has made it look as though it has been a terrific decision. He just does everything the right way.

"He has a knack of handling a situation in the right way, whether it is a contract negotiation, or anything he has had to do as captain during the last 14 or 15 months after taking the job from Barry Ferguson.

"Anything he has had to come to you with, he approaches you in the right manner. He is excellent. He has that bit of toughness in him as well which is always required with any player. You speak to people who have been involved with him and they will say he is a great professional and a nice lad, but he has a toughness as well. Nobody will ever take advantage of him. He has a good way of getting his point across. Whatever the argument is, he will not give up on it easily."

Weir is one of six Rangers players out of contract this summer and who may be making their final appearances for the club against Motherwell at Ibrox tomorrow. If Weir does leave and move into management, Smith has no doubt he will continue to excel.

"Coaching or management, whatever he gets the chance to do, will be a natural progression for Davie," said Smith. "I think he sees himself doing that as well. I think he will be excellent at it."

Kris Boyd, Nacho Novo, DaMarcus Beasley, Kirk Broadfoot and Steven Smith are the other five Rangers players out of contract next month. Full-back Smith has already decided to leave in search of regular first-team football.

"Steven goes with everyone's best wishes," said the manager. "In my time here, he has had injury problems and then couldn't get back into the team because Sasa Papac has been such a success at left-back. But Steven has never missed a training session, his attitude is spot on and he will be an asset to whatever club he goes to."

Motherwell arrive at Ibrox tomorrow intent on sealing a Europa League spot after the adrenalin rush of their dramatic 6-6 draw with Hibs on Wednesday night, coming back from 6-2 down with 26 minutes remaining. The visitors have to match Hibs' result against Dundee United to secure fourth spot in the SPL and a guaranteed European place.

It will be a final appearance in claret and amber for Fir Park winger Jim O'Brien, who has signed a pre-contract agreement with Barnsley. The 22-year-old will move to the Coca-Cola Championship club in the summer.

The former Republic of Ireland Under-21 international had attracted interest from several SPL clubs while Motherwell had also offered O'Brien a new contract.