With the whiz of sirens and clinking of cell doors underway Walter Smith has become the latest figure in the Sevco soap opera to disassociate himself from the chaos at Ibrox.
In the wake of Dave Murray surfacing from his bunker to attack Dave King in an interview in the Herald Smith spoke out at a charity dinner in Glasgow last night mainly to defend the trophy-less Ally McCoist.
The £800,000-a-year manager faces another Malmo moment tomorrow when he takes his side to Tynecastle hoping to avoid falling nine points behind the league leaders.
Perhaps forgetting his own role in propping up the current regime at Ibrox Smith told the audience that it’s the board to blame for the most expensive side in the second tier being unable to beat Alloa in two attempts and losing at home to Hearts and Hibs.
According to the Daily Record Smith said: “ I was fortunate enough to be given great support by the likes of David Murray with the signings I was allowed to make.
“People are casting aspersions on Ally’s ability but if I ever had doubts about him I would never have recommended him for the job.
“No club can be successful until it is well run from the top, it’s the single determining factor in how well the team plays.
“I wish Ally could be given that opportunity but it isn’t being afforded him. Ally is bearing up well under the worst circumstances under which any Rangers manager has had to work.”
Overlooking the fact that it was EBT payments rather than Murray’s pockets that enabled Smith to buy the players that won three titles in a row it seems that the former Ibrox boss has forgotten his own role in the current club.
With some fans concerned about investing in a share issue Charles Green turned to Smith with his appointment as a non-executive director giving the share issue a massive boost.
In November 2012 Smith said: “The people who purchased the club have shown over the last few months they are serious in their intentions to rebuild Rangers and I am happy, as many other fans have done, to lend my support.”
With the fans finally waking up to the Yorkshire based moonbeams of Green, and with guid Rainjurs man Malcolm Murray removed as chairman in May 2013 a reassuring face was needed for the sale of season tickets.
Talking of his role as chairman Smith said: “Unity among the directors is vital. We must all be on the same page as often as possible.
“We won’t always agree but Rangers, this club and our fans must always come first. It’s a great honour to be asked to take up this position. However, no one should believe that I see my role as a passive one. That hasn’t been my way in the past and it won’t be my way in the future.”
With the season ticket money banked for the 2013/14 season Smith walked away three months later saying: “It is with the greatest of regret that I have to announce to Rangers supporters that I have decided to step down as chairman of Rangers Football Club.
“It is, I am convinced the correct thing to do under the circumstances. Unfortunately, recent events have led me to the conclusion that the only option left open is for me to submit my resignation and to leave the board of directors with immediate effect.
“Working with a board which could rarely find consensus and agreement has created a highly-dysfunctional environment which has not been good for the club. So far as chief executive and manager are concerned, let me say this: Craig Mather, as I have said before is doing a good job.
“It is unfortunate that this has happened but when change does come I hope he’ll be allowed to continue the job he has started. As for Alistair McCoist, it is important that we all appreciate that no other Rangers manager has had to work with poorer or more trying circumstances.”