Smith says he's here to stay and eyes Champions League

RANGERS manager Walter Smith remains fully committed to leading the Ibrox side into the Champions League following the clinching of the first title of his second spell as manager. Smith could not have seen things go more to plan on Tayside as he watched his team brush Dundee United aside with what skipper Davie Weir considered was Rangers' finest performance of the season.

The memory of the bleak loss to FB Kaunas in the Champions League qualifying round at the start of the campaign was expunged on a bright afternoon at Tannadice Park, Smith's alma mater. Rangers can now look forward to the guarantee of six Champions League matches and Smith said he hoped it helps ease the burden on chairman Sir David Murray. The source of this pressure has not only been financial, with Smith having been notified of the need to sell at least one major player in January. However, Kris Boyd, who scored Rangers' last goal in the 3-0 win at Tannadice, could not agree terms with Birmingham City.

The pressure has also been borne on Murray by supporters, aghast at the prospect of Celtic winning a fourth consecutive title.

This was averted yesterday, and Smith defended both himself and Murray as he reflected on what he described as an "awkward" season. After defeat to an uncelebrated Lithuanian team in the first qualifying round of the Champions League, the club were further rocked by off-field incidents which saw skipper Barry Ferguson and goalkeeper Allan McGregor suspended for a fortnight after their poor behaviour when on Scotland duty. Even as recently as last weekend Smith had to demand an apology from Kyle Lafferty after his play-acting led to a red card to Aberdeen's Charlie Mulgrew. On top of this has been Celtic's relentless pursuit of the championship, although they have stuttered in recent weeks.

"It's been an awkward season," said Smith. "We had to recover from being knocked out by Kaunas and then there were one or two things we had to recover from during the season. I must say the players have never let it affect them that much, and they have acquitted themselves well, to the point where we now do not need to play qualifying rounds for the Champions League next season, which is obviously a good thing."

He described the defeat to Kaunas as a "hangover" following the disappointment of the previous season, when Rangers lost both the league and the Uefa Cup final in the closing days of the campaign. Smith is aware of the discontent which grew in the Ibrox stands this season, and which was often directed at him.

"To have taken the championship to the final day in two seasons, and been in five cup finals – one of them European – I think is an achievement," he said, before contemplating a much-needed return to the riches of the Champions League.

"It is always going to be difficult for our clubs in the Champions League," he said. "In our last visit I thought we turned in some exceptional performances. I think Celtic have turned in some exceptional performances in the Champions League. A lot of teams in Scotland do not have the wherewithal to handle Rangers and Celtic, but that is like for us in Europe. People expect myself or Gordon Strachan to come up with magic."

Smith was defiant when he responded to a question about his own future. This had been sparked by some weekend comments where he suggested that losing the title might lead to his removal. In the event, Rangers could have lost yesterday and still been crowned champions. Smith was adamant that he wants to carry on, although he still has to sit down with Murray and plot the way forward.

"I never said I would not be here," he commented. "I will speak to the chairman about the whole situation. Unless I am sacked, I will remain here. Loads of managers have won a championship and ended up binned. If we had lost out there today you will probably have said Murray has to sack him. But it was only one game. We will have to sit down, though whether the subject of my tenure as manager comes up I don't know."

Smith was careful to mention the chairman when assessing the impact of the championship victory. "I know that he's been under a little pressure over the last period and I hope this alleviates a bit of that as well," he said. "It was a big thing for Rangers because we were always aware of the financial situation."

The title win also vindicates Smith's treatment of Ferguson and McGregor. Despite having originally intimated that both would never play for the Ibrox club again, Smith relented last month. Both featured in the squad yesterday, with Ferguson appearing as a second-half substitute. Although he has been replaced by Weir as skipper, Ferguson was invited by his successor to join him in lifting the Clydesdale Bank Premier League trophy. Smith said it was the correct thing to do, although it is still likely that Ferguson – who has one further year of his contract to run – will leave Ibrox this summer. It was notable that Ferguson was one of the few players Smith did not hug while they waited to be presented with the trophy.

"I hadn't thought about it but it was nice," he said when asked about Weir's insistence that Ferguson share the moment. "He had been captain of the team for a long time. It was right that he picked it up."

Weir, who demanded that Ferguson join him on the podium, pointed out that it was only fair.

"Barry has been captain for 25 to 30 games this season and I would not have felt right lifting the trophy myself," he said. "I think it was the right decision and the manager felt it was the right decision. He deserves it. I am not trying to look for medals or anything, I just thought it was the right thing to do."

Although now 39, it seems more likely that Weir will be at Ibrox next season than Ferguson. His latest one-year contract expires next month. "I want to play on – it's just a matter of speaking to whoever wants to speak to me. The guarantee of six games in the Champions League is a big incentive."

Weir was asked whether his team had been given extra motivation by Georgios Samaras' loose talk. The Celtic striker commented last week that Rangers did not play football that was deserving of champions. "You don't need fired up to win a league or at least you should not need fired up," said Weir. "I am sure he will be disappointed with his comments. That's their (Celtic's] issue, our issue was out on the pitch, and we have to be given credit. It was a big game and a big performance today. We answered every question in the right way.

"From the first minute we showed how much it meant to everybody," he continued. "We have had the determination to keep going this season. We never really got our noses in front to any great extent, but we kept plugging away. I believe we deserved to win it."