RANGERS manager Walter Smith has urged Ibrox supporters to give summer signing Kenny Miller a chance in his second stint at the Govan club.
Miller, who played under Dick Advocaat at Rangers in 2000-01, also had a spell at rivals Celtic before he returned to Glasgow from Championship side Derby County earlier this month.
Before the 28-year-old signed a three-year contract at Ibrox for
a fee thought to be around £1.9 million, a representative of the Rangers Supporters Trust claimed that the Scotland striker would be a "deeply unpopular" signing. However, Smith is hoping fans reserve judgment on Miller.
"In terms of the reaction generated by Kenny's arrival, I would ask everybody not to make judgments on previous situations and his previous time at Rangers," said the Rangers manager.
"He is a far more experienced player now, and at the stage in his career where he will be able to use the experience he has. If he does that, I am sure he will be a big benefit to us, and if the supporters see that is the case, I am sure they will get over their misgivings.
"I hope that is the case anyway."
Smith insists Miller's time at Celtic Park is irrelevant. "From my point of view that aspect doesn't come in to it. I would hope those days are over now," he explained.
"What was important to me was that Kenny was a terrific team player, who could help us improve. We needed a bit better movement from the front players and he can supply that because he is a very willing runner."
Supporters' spokesman David Edgar said last night that he expects Rangers fans will heed Smith's plea for them to give Miller a chance to impress. He believes that Smith's standing among the rank and file support will ensure the Scotland striker gets their backing – in the short term at least.
"The fans will back Walter Smith's judgment even though a section of them don't particularly like Miller," Edgar insisted. "They accept that Walter has the right to bring in the players that he wants to bring in.
"Walter is a very popular manager who has earned the respect of the fans and if he says Kenny Miller will improve the team then the fans will go along with that.
"Kenny will get the opportunity to turn the fans around but it was an unpopular signing and it would be naive to think otherwise.
"It has nothing to do with him being an ex-Celtic player. The fans are simply not keen on Kenny Miller and he will need to get off to a good start."
Edgar added: "I'm sure Kenny Miller himself knows how the fans feel about his arrival. And in many ways you have to hand it to him, he must have a strong character. He is aware of the feelings of the fans but it doesn't appear to have affected him.
"But it is up to him to prove himself. He has to get the fans onside by delivering the goods. I think he will get a low-key reception when he turns out at Ibrox for the first time this season, which looks like it will be in the friendly against Liverpool on 2 August.
"People will be waiting to see what he does. But he is a Rangers player and the fans will give anyone in a blue jersey 110 per cent backing."
Meanwhile, another summer recruit, Andrius Velicka, says moving to Rangers is evidence he has "made it" in the game, and the Lithuanian striker is confident he can hold down a starting place in the team next season.
Velicka will arrive at Ibrox on 14 July after completing a £1 million move from Viking Stavanger, and the former Hearts player said: "I'm so excited about moving to Rangers. It's a dream – I've waited my whole career for a chance like this. Yes the club has bought Miller and (Kyle] Lafferty since I signed and already have good strikers, but that doesn't scare me. I believe in my ability to compete for a place in the first team."
The full article contains 707 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
