Smith urges players to focus on pitch not financial woes
WALTER Smith last night warned his Rangers stars not to let the club's financial meltdown wreck their season on the park.
By Gary Keown
00:00, Tue, Oct 27, 2009
Smith wants his players to focus on the challenging match at Dundee
Blues boss Smith blew the whistle at the weekend on the fact Lloyds Banking Group is now in control of the debt-ridden outfit and brutally exposed what has come of years of bad management at Ibrox.
Rangers are £30million in the red with reports claiming they were close to being put into administration earlier this month.
They haven't signed a player for 18 months and every member of the squad will be available for transfer in January.
Smith refused to answer further questions on the cash crisis at a media conference yesterday and threatened to walk out unless journalists changed the subject.
However, he has told his squad they cannot afford to let doubts over the future divert their attention from a tricky Co-op Cup quarter-final at First Division leaders Dundee tonight.
Smith said: "It does affect everyone, not just the players, when there is a level of negativity.
"We have to concentrate more on the results of the games.We have a difficult cup tie coming up and, while there may be levels of negativity around the place, we don't and can't allow it to affect us.
"You have got to try to overcome that aspect of it and we know we will get an extremely tough game at Dundee. They beat Aberdeen in the last round and it will be a big night for them."
Smith went on: "I don t think it will be difficult to keep my players minds on the job.Sometimes, when you are going along really well, these games can be pitfalls.
"We are not doing that well. Dundee are doing all right and might be looking forward to the tie, so it becomes a bigger challenge for us."
Rangers fans groups launched a 'We Deserve Better' campaign last term because of concerns over the way the club was being run and are now looking for a greater say in hauling their club out of the mire.
They were roundly criticised by the Ibrox management at the time and are looking for answers.
Smith said: "I don t see any reason for them (fans) to be confused.I thought I made a statement at the weekend and that was it.We are now trying to concentrate on the football."