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Smith wary of Ibrox fans' protest

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Smith concerned by fans' disquiet

Rangers manager Walter Smith fears too much criticism of his team from the stands could eventually have a detrimental effect.

Ibrox owner Sir David Murray has come in for recent flak from fans, with some calling for the chairman to move on.

"If people are unhappy with the way we're going, they've got the right to express that disquiet," said Smith.

"I just hope it doesn't affect us too much. There is an awful lot going on around the club at the moment."

Fans groups, backed by the board of the Rangers Supporters Trust, this week launched the 'We Deserve Better' campaign, attacking Murray and his running of the club over the last decade.

Their complaints came in the wake of Murray's revelation that one key player would have to be sold this month to balance the books, after the club accepted an offer from Birmingham for top goal-scorer Kris Boyd.

The attack was later criticised by the Rangers Supporters Assembly, the umbrella organisation representing fans groups across the world.

With leaders Celtic playing on Sunday, Rangers can close the gap at the top of the league to two points with a win over Falkirk on Saturday.

And Smith knows the best way to appease disgruntled fans is to produce positive results.

"So far, I don't think it has affected anything on the footballing side of things and that's the most important aspect from my own point of view," added Smith.

"If there is going to be a protest, I'm not quite sure how many people actually support those who have been critical this week.

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"If it's a huge element of the support then obviously we will have a problem that we will have to overcome. Hopefully, it won't affect anybody on the pitch.

"I'm sure if we go out and play well enough then we can quiet them a little bit. We just have to keep trying to win games."

Smith admits he has been aware of discontent within some sections of the support since the opening weeks of the season, following Rangers' Champions League exit against FBK Kaunas.

"Supporters have a right to protest, there is no doubt about that," he added.

"I think the campaign started earlier in the season. They had a banner at the ground about three weeks into the season.

"There has obviously been that disquiet among these people for the whole of the season so we have to take that on board and hope that we can try to reach a level that they are expecting of us.

"Our job is effectively to do what we have to do in terms of winning and getting results on the pitch. We strive to be as successful as we can be."

Meanwhile, Smith said Rangers have received no further approaches for any of their players, despite reports linking Boyd with Lazio and highly-rated youngster John Fleck with Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham.

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see also
McLeish backs under-fire Murray
15 Jan 09 |  Rangers
Lazio tracking Gers striker Boyd
15 Jan 09 |  Rangers


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