RANGERS' miserable early exit from European competition was compounded in the early hours of yesterday morning when their flight back from Kaunas was delayed, giving the reeling club additional time to reflect on an opportunity squandered.
Walter Smith, the Rangers manager who for most of last season appeared to have the Midas touch, for a fleeting moment having four trophies within his grasp, is in the unfamiliar position of being under pressure.
Smith, who led his side to the Uef
a Cup final in May and glory in the CIS and Scottish Cups, has come under fire for his team selection in the 2-1 loss to FBK Kaunas, costing Rangers the chance of a £10million windfall.
In wake of the calamitous exit, Rangers Supporters Assembly president Jim Templeton said: "There is no need to tell (Smith] what a disaster this is, he went through similar during his first time at Ibrox. We are just looking for signs of progression but there hasn't been any."
Rangers Supporters' Trust spokesman David Edgar also voiced concern that players such as Carlos Cuellar might be sold to make up for the financial shortfall after defeat in Lithuania. "The fear is that players will be sold to balance the books and the fans simply will not stand for it. We are totally gutted," he said.
Rangers chairman David Murray, chief executive Martin Bain and Smith are scheduled to face the Supporters Assembly in a question and answer session at Murray Park tomorrow.
The full article contains 254 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
