Walter Smith: Cash crisis has helped

WALTER SMITH feared being unable to sign any players for 18 months would be the death knell for his ambitions of winning trophies.

As he eyes a treble that would trump even the double of last term, the Rangers boss admits it's proved to be the making rather than the breaking of his squad.

Rangers' financial problems means Smith hasn't bought a player since he paid £3million to take Steve Davis from Fulham on August 21, 2008.

Having seen two - going on three - transfer windows come and go since then without being able to get the cheque book out, he wouldn't have been surprised if an element of staleness had crept in.

The opposite appears to have been the case and while Smith still fears that injuries and suspensions could wreck Gers' glory bid, he admits the resilience shown by his players has taken him aback.

He said: "In many ways a lack of new faces has helped us. It's not affected us badly so we've got to say that maybe it has helped us a little bit. Because there's not been much movement in or out of the club, there has been a stability.

"It's not through choice this has happened. The only thing is that we're still wide open to injuries and suspensions.

"It's never easy to get success in the three competitions over a long season and we've got a smaller group than before. We are handling everything well just now but it will be a big test for us to go and do that.

"There is no doubt that the experienced players we've got like Lee McCulloch and Davie Weir have helped.

"Neither of them would ever be looked upon as being flash types of footballer. That's something they've brought to the dressing room.

"At times we've played some really good football this season but at other times there's just been a bit of steadiness about us." Even the loss of Kris Boyd for six weeks through injury and Kenny Miller's recurring hamstring niggle have not proved the catastrophe they might have to Gers' hopes of a clean sweep.

Although a second string strike force has not delivered the goals required lately, the balance has been partially redressed by a sudden surge from midfield.

Smith added: "When you've got the likes of Kris and Kenny playing and they are getting goals that's fine, but at the moment there's more pressure on the rest of them to get in and get on the score sheet.

"The likes of Kyle Lafferty and John Fleck came in last week and it's not easy for them to just come in and take the place of two players who've been playing for the majority of the season. The onus then falls on others.

"I think Steven Whittaker's scored eight this season. He does well on the left hand side, by cutting in as he's got a good shot on him.

"Big Lee McCulloch's got forward into the box and has been instrumental in creating a few opportunities and scoring himself.

"But we could still be doing with a few more from the midfield players."

St Johnstone stand between Smith and a fifth successive domestic final on Wednesday. Smith knows failure will not be accepted by a Rangers support, whose expectation levels have not diminished despite the lack of financial power at his disposal these days.

He said: "I keep getting asked about the treble but I can't answer that until you do it. You have to see how the season pans out.

"I know it's boring, but we just try and do well each week and see where that takes us. There's always a pressure to achieve at the Old Firm so your aim at the start of every season is to try and win the three domestic trophies.

"That's not being big-headed or arrogant, that's a fact of life. If you don't do it then you have a problem. We've managed to do well in cup ties since we came back. Hopefully that will continue although there have been some near things in that. We'll need to play well to win the game."

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