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    The growing ‘no-dough’ myth of Walter Smith as Rangers manager

    David FauldsBy No Comments3 Mins Read
    Walter Smith goes back to Rangers
    Walter Smith is unveiled by David Murray as the new Rangers manager, at their Murray Park training ground on January 10, 2007. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

    No dough to spend? The forever growing myth of Walter Smith at Rangers…

    A recent pic on X grabbed my attention from back in the 2009/10 season. It was an image of former Rangers (1872) player Kevin Thompson holding the league trophy that the now defunct club had won..

    It wasn’t so much the player, but the t-shirt he was wearing which proclaimed ‘No dough? Two in a row. Which was a reference to their second successive league title at a time they were reckoned to be ‘skint’.

    Rangers FC manager Walter Smith leaves the room after the press conference at the Moevenpick Stuttgart Airport Hotel on November 26, 2007 in Stuttgart, Germany. (Photo by Vladimir Rys/Bongarts/Getty Images)

    Unlawful tax schemes

    Before I start my rant, I’d like to make one thing clear. We didn’t deserve to win the title that year as we were truly woeful under the management of Tony Mowbray and the former Ibrox club throughly deserved their title,  setting aside unlawful tax schemes and secretive side letters.

    Oldco Rangers Lose Big Tax Appeal. Evening Times front page press cutting.

    ‘Shoestring’ budget’ myth

    What sticks in the throat is that there’s an ever growing myth that they managed to win these titles on a ‘shoestring’ budget. That of course is a load of nonsense.

    Smith while having some restraints on his ability to spend compared to his first spell, was still heavily backed.

    This wasn’t a side made up of free transfers, this was a side of seasoned international pros on massive salaries, beefed up even more through unlawful side payments that would ultimately lead to the death of Rangers FC.

    Walter Smith, coach of Rangers FC gestures to his players during the Scottish Premier League match between Celtic and Rangers at Celtic Park on March 11 2007. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

    Spent £20 million plus in transfer fees

    Around £20 million plus in transfer fees was invested in that side alone. Money borrowed and ultimately never paid back.  So while he was a decent manager Walter Smith was far from a miracle worker, despite what myths continue to be peddled.

    They would do his legacy more justice by recalling what actually happened and how they all played their part in letting their club die. Walter too, though a decent manager nevertheless.

    Here’s that tweet…

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    Founder and editor on Celtic Shorts and publisher on dozens of top quality Celtic books including those on celticstarbooks.com. Publisher on The Celtic Star ahead of its sale. Earliest Celtic memories are a win over East Fife at Celtic Park and the 4-1 League Cup loss to Partick Thistle as a 6 year old. Best game? Easy 4-2, 1979 when Ten Men Won the League. Email me if you'd like to get involved. editor@celticshorts.com

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