Scottish Premier League - Smith eyes Europe

Eurosport - Mon, 25 May 15:02:00 2009

Walter Smith has no intention of walking away from Rangers after guiding them to the Scottish Premier League title.

FOOTBALL Rangers' Pedro Mendez (C) celebrates with Kris Boyd (L) and Kenny Miller after scoring against Dundee Utd during their Scottish Premier League soccer match at Tannadice Park in Dundee, Scotland May 24, 2009. - 0

The veteran boss had been tipped to leave the club this summer and would have been able to quit in a blaze of glory after they were crowned Scottish champions.

Goals from Kyle Lafferty, Pedro Mendes and Kris Boyd secured the win against Dundee United which sealed the championship after three years of dominance from Celtic.

The triumph also guarantees Rangers entry to the group stages of the Champions League after they fell at the first hurdle in qualifying at the start of this term.

Asked whether he felt he still had unfinished business at Ibrox, Smith replied: "I never said I didn't. This is what everyone else keeps asking me.

"I think when you get to my age, other people look at you retiring. Obviously, I would much rather face the Champions League than qualification for the Champions League. I plan to go on holiday and then come back and face the Champions League."

But Gordon Strachan gave no clue as to his future at Celtic Park.

Radio phone-ins and fans websites were besieged by irate fans after the Hoops drew a blank against Hearts at Parkhead.

Former Coventry and Southampton boss Strachan said: "At this moment in time, we'd like to thank the players and staff; they gave it their best shot. I'd like to thank supporters; it wasn't easy for them. We weren't up for the challenge of winning four in a row.

"It is disappointing but we have only ourselves to blame.

"We will analyse it later on but it doesn't take a genius to see that, in some areas, we weren't as good as we have been in the last three years."

Strachan then praised his great rivals before hastily departing.

"Then we go on to the next part and we say well done to Rangers," he said.

"We say well done to Walter (Smith), Ally (McCoist), Kenny (McDowall), and Jim (Stewart) and their players because we know how difficult it is; it's not easy to win championships. There is a lot that goes on.

"We congratulate them and I'm sure we will give them a run for their money next year. We congratulate them because we think we can win with dignity and hopefully lose with dignity. That's basically it for today; there is plenty of time to think about it for the next few days."

Hearts boss Csaba Laszlo, meanwhile, played down speculation he is set to leave the club, saying: "I have two years left on my contract and my children are going to school here so I would like to stay. My priority is Hearts but I need help to build a new team."

PA Sport

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  1. POINT 54 WHO WAS PLAYING IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LAST­ NIGHT, THE TWO BEST TEAMS IN THE WORLD AND IT WAS NOT­ THE HUNS. LOL BEST TEAM IN THE WORLD MY ARSE. LOL

    From THE HOOPS, on Thu 28 May 3:44PM

  2. PT 61 UPHILL WOT AN IDIOT U ARE ANYWAY RANGERS SPL­ CHAMPS 2008/2009 RAM YOUR HIBS OR SEPTIC U ARE THAT­ THICK U DONT KNOW WHO U SUPPORT YA GAYBOY

    From n.haig123, on Tue 26 May 7:58PM

  3. All pi-s-s from the usual p-r-i-c-k-s and wee ginger­ nut is the one gone missing. C'mon the Gers 52 and­ more to come.

    From css, on Tue 26 May 5:57AM

  4. any body know when calderwoods start date at ipox good­ exchange watty for calderwood­ hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa­ aa

    From paul, on Mon 25 May 8:17PM

  5. well done WALTER, another one bites the dust.hahahahaha

    From Alex W, on Mon 25 May 4:56PM

  6. Strachan has left Celtic!!!!!!!

    From Stuart, on Mon 25 May 4:30PM

  7. WILLIELAW::IS THAT A PART OF THE HUEMAN BODY; THAT­ PASSES WATER::::EVEN BARRY FERGIE 1 OE RA BOOZE­ BROTHERES WOULD;JIB YE

    From UB40,LOCHEE, on Mon 25 May 3:32PM

  8. Ur C R A P u and Celtic get in the EPL and you will­ follow Newcastle out of business!!!!!

    From keith j, on Mon 25 May 3:17PM

  9. Milne001...Calderwood at IPOX never...I have heard that­ Wattie and Ally are leaving....but no Calderwood.­ Willielaw is lower than a snakes belly...and his­ comments re whites and Burns are a disgrace....lets­ talk football, nothing else.

    From Stuart, on Mon 25 May 3:10PM

  10. I hope I'm wrong, but I'm hearing rumours about­ a certain Mr Calderwood taking over from our watty, cos­ supposedly he's going. As I say, I hope I'm­ wrong. P.S, willielaw, I'm laughing at some of your­ comments as I do every week (most of them confuse me),­ but the Tommy Burns comment was too far. There's­ no-one more Rangers than me, but cancer jokes are below­ the belt. I hope all Celtic fans read this and accept­ my apologies on his behalf.

    From milne001, on Mon 25 May 2:57PM

  11. LET'S ALL HAVE A GOOD LAUGH AT THE TATTIE MUNCHERS­­ EXPENSE...HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...LMFAO...WR R THE­­ PEOPLE. WE R THE #1 CLUB IN THE WORLD. WE R THE MOST­­ SUCCESSFUL CLUB IN THE WORLD. WE WELCOME THE CHASE YA­­ MOCKET TATTIE MUNCHING IRA TERR0RI$T FILTH BAGS. I­­ WONDER IF SAMARA$$ STILL THINKS WE DON'T DESERVE­­ IT?...ROFLMFAO...KEEP CHASING­ FILTH...LMAO...YOU'LL­ NEVER CATCH­ US...LMFAO...WHERE'S THAT MOCKET­ Singin'­ Ginger GUY THAT'S ABOUT HERE ALL THE­­ TIME...HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...DOES HE ONLY SHOW UP WHEN­ THE FILTH ARE TOP OF THE­ LEAGUE?...HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...LMFAO...HIS AVATAR­ IS A PICTURE OF A BOTTLE OF­ BUCKFAST...HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...TYPICAL FILTH­ FAN...LMAO...CRAWLED BACK UNDER HIS­ DIRTY­ ROCK...LMFAO...WE R THE PEOPLE.

    From King_Billy, on Mon 25 May 2:46PM

  12. @#$% the pope not his children

    From john, on Mon 25 May 2:35PM

  13. PT52...sorry m8 Im SCOTTISH SNP

    From Stuart, on Mon 25 May 2:16PM

  14. Willielaw...ur parents must be so proud of­ you...looking in on you soon no doubt in the visiting­ room at the jail

    From stub1, on Mon 25 May 1:55PM

  15. willielaw: I'm a gers fan but can't see ANY­ humour in your scum rants. You are an in-bred disease­ that we are ahamed of. If "You are the­ People" we should find a vaccine or put you down­ as you serve no purpose but hatred in the world. What a­ worthless piece of shyte you are.

    From crispyduck, on Mon 25 May 1:55PM
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    VOTE B.N.P. AND BE BRITTISH STAND UP AND BE SEEN, KEEP­ BRITAIN WHITE AND KEEP THE MONSTORS OUT !!!! STAND UP­ AND KEEP THE FIGHT, VOTE B.N.P. WITH IN THE NEXT 4­ YEARS WE WILL HAVE M.P.S ALL OVER THE COUNRTY !!!! VOTE­ B.N.P.

    From Willie, on Mon 25 May 1:03PM
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    HES DEAD TOMMY BURNS HA ha ha ha ha
    BIG JOCK KNEW­ !!!!!!!!!

    From Willie, on Mon 25 May 12:59PM
  18. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    WHATS YOUR POSTCODE, BECAUSE I WILL KICK YOUR DOOR IN­ YA ROCKET MAN !!!!!!
    NO SURRENDER !!!

    From Willie, on Mon 25 May 12:56PM

  19. MI6 calling agent samarass.....your mission is complete­ u may return to greek land

    From Captain Pugwash, on Mon 25 May 12:56PM

  20. DEAL WAY IT,CAUSE WEE ARE THE PEOPLE.........NO­ SURENDER.

    From Ian, on Mon 25 May 12:50PM
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