The Silver Fox

Feb 24 2008 Gordon Waddell

Walter Might Be 60 But He Still Has That Burning Desire To Keep On Winning Trophies Says Ally Mccoist

WALTER SMITH didn't come back to Rangers as a pitstop on the road to retirement. He came back to start another dynasty.

That's the fire Ally McCoist still sees blazing in his gaffer's eyes even at the age of 60.

The Rangers boss celebrates his milestone birthday today against Gretna, another 90 minutes walking a razorwire tightrope towards the title.

One that, if he wins it, will mean every bit as much to him as any of the nine in a row he helped lead the Light Blues to more than a decade ago.

But McCoist insists it won't be his last. The Gers assistant manager has spent 27 years working under Smith on and off.

If anyone knows what makes the silver fox tick it's him. And as he watched Walter tick off the days towards the big six-oh in Athens last week the Ibrox legend admitted: "This one would mean a hell of a lot to him - I know that for a fact.

"The way he's going about everything this season, there's no stone left unturned.

"It has been meticulous - people watching games, players, teams. Videos analysed. It's all there.

"Think about it. When was the last final we were in? Motherwell in the League Cup? That's a long time for a club like Rangers.

"Walter loves this club more than anyone and that's the main reason he came back.

"I'd never say anything negative against the previous manager - I didn't know him at all - but the fact we weren't competing at the top of the league and in finals didn't reflect well on the club he loved.

"Walter wanted to change that - and no one could deny he's doing that now." It's exactly that drive to put the club he loves back where he believes it belongs that will see him over the finish line - then right back around to the start again.

It has been said that if Smith does hoist the SPL trophy aloft in May he will see it as his crowning glory, walk off into the sunset and hand over the reins a happy man.

McCoist laughs at the thought.

"It's the exact same thing Sir Alex Ferguson has," he grins.

"They have an inbuilt instinct to succeed. And there's something in their psyche that keeps them going because they have nothing to prove to anyone other than themselves.

"You might think, for example, if Fergie won the European Cup this year that would be the right note for him to say enough's enough.

"But that contradicts what he stands for - because he'd then want to do it again.

"Same with Walter. If he won the title this year he'd want to do it again. He's like Sir Alex, Sir Bobby Robson - they all have that desire to win but the reason they're all still there is love of the game.

"It's the one question everyone has asked me in the past year - is Walter still the same?' I can tell you he hasn't lost a shred of desire."

Smith said right at the outset of his Rangers return things would be different second time around.

One of the changes he made was delegation, the youthful energy of McCoist and Kenny McDowall dovetailing with his wisdom.

And McCoist is grateful to have a place at one of football's finest seats of learning.

He said: "It would be nonsense to say Walter wasn't influencing me every day. He was my first boss in the Scottish youth team, along with Andy Roxburgh, 27 years ago.

"That's a long time to be working under someone even if it has been on and off.

"Twelve years at Ibrox, the national team and now this. I hope he's rubbing off on me. I walk about with my eyes open, ears open and occasionally my mouth shut.

"The trip during the week for example - we're sitting in the hotel having a cup of tea and Walter has the sugar bowl and cups out in formations. Always learning.

"We went to Olympiakos v Chelsea as well and while he doesn't say a lot during the game you can sense things from him.

"The likes of Chelsea's Juliano Belletti crossing the ball and I can see him wince, get annoyed because he has not beaten the first defender with his cross. It's a pet hate of his! And mine to be fair.

"That enthusiasm for football even now is unbelievable.

"But if you'd said to me 22 years ago when Walter walked in the door at Ibrox, would he still be here now? No chance.

"I can see he wants to enjoy his retirement when it comes - but I also see a big part of him that's just not ready for it."

However, that won't stop McCoist indulging in some ageist japery this week.

A trademark grin cracks across his face and he cackles: "I've got a great present for him - but I can't spoil the surprise.

"Let's just say it was a close run thing between what I have got him and a stairlift to get him up the marble staircase!"

The gift might just be enough to see McCoist sent crashing back down the stairs.

But even then the man whose goals helped Smith to seven of Gers' nine in a row reckons it would be a rare display of emotion.

He said: "That's the one thing I've never seen from Walter. He's always in control, even after the best of wins and even behind closed doors.

"The only time he has ever done it? The New YearOld Firm gamewe won 3-1 in 1997 - the nine in a row season.

"Remember him taking off down the touchline? I scored 355 goals for Rangers and he loses it at Erik Bo Andersen! That sums up our relationship."