Walter: Euro run hurt Gers

May 25 2008

WALTER SMITH admits he knew Rangers were in trouble when Europe started hurting his side instead of inspiring them.

Gers fell at the SPL's final hurdle last Thursday night as a 68-game season finally took its toll.

And Smith reckoned the writing was on the wall when they hit the skids in the wake of their last three UEFA Cup clashes, taking just two points out of nine.

The Ibrox boss, who will hold talks with Davie Weir over his future this week, said: "We went 27 domestic matches without losing this season.

"But since then we've had all these games and it affected our results. Our form has been up and down.

"After the first leg against Fiorentina we lost at Celtic Park, the second leg we drew at Easter Road, then the final we dropped two points to Motherwell.

"That's a circumstance we haven't handled well."