Kyle Lafferty's goal against Hibs secured the title on Sunday

David Weir says Walter Smith's never-say-die attitude was reflected in the Rangers team that retained the title, despite the club's crippling debts.

Rangers beat Hibernian on Sunday to take the Scottish Premier League crown.

And Ibrox captain Weir told BBC Scotland: "I think every team reflects the personality of the manager.

"He just laid it on the table to us: this is the situation, you can use this as an excuse or you can go on and confound it and write your own story."

Weir said that Smith had sat his players down during each of the last two transfer windows and told them they were all available for sale.

"We could have had a lot of excuses this season and I think we have to give the manager great credit for not making them an easy way out for us," added the 39-year-old defender.

I've not got a decision to make because I've not got any options at the minute Rangers captain David Weir

"We've managed to put them into the background and get on with playing football, winning games regardless of the circumstances or what has been said about the group or individuals."

Weir, who has played every minute of every league game this season despite his advancing years, conceded he had doubted if the squad had the ability to keep their run going.

However, he said the team had not been distracted by those who said the title was already won long before Sunday's 1-0 win put them out of the reach of second-placed city rivals Celtic.

"It was not a problem staying focused because you have got to win every game, regardless of whether you are top of the league or second - you have got to win every game with Rangers," he said.

"We knew we still had work to do. Sunday was the first chance that we had whereby it was in our own hands - if we won the game, we won the league and we went and did it.

"We probably were not at our best. We were a bit jaded, but we still got there and great credit to the boys for doing that."

Weir recalled beating Hearts 2-1 in August when down to 10 men and the Co-operative Insurance Cup final in March, when Rangers beat St Mirren 1-0, despite having two players sent off.

He also remembered the November defeat by Stuttgart, during what he admits was a disappointing European campaign, quickly followed by a loss in Aberdeen that he thought was a turning point for the season.

Smith was delighted to win another title with Rangers

"We got a lot of criticism after that from ex-players and journalists," said Weir. "I thought at that point we had to come together and move on from there.

"We could have either gone one way or the other and fortunately we went on a good run after that.

"There have been situations where this team finds a way to win, regardless of the obstacles put in front of it."

Rangers continue to look for a new owner and the remaining financial uncertainty means that Smith and his backroom team are still working without contracts, while Weir is among the players who have yet to be offered new deals.

He has previously said that his own future could be coloured by whether or not Smith remains with the club and he wants the manager to remain at Ibrox.

"I, as a Rangers supporter, hope he is here," stated Weir. "I know that he is the best man for the job but the manager will have his own circumstances and his own decisions to make.

"He will be the one to know the full extent of it and his full feelings but I think any Rangers supporter with any sense would hope he is still there next year.

"He has just got a grasp of the nature of the Scottish game. He has the respect of the players and of the whole league.

"He has this sort of aura - been there, seen it and done it. That rubs off on the players and gives them confidence. When he speaks, you just have to listen."

Weir believes he can continue playing next season but has no idea whether that will be at Ibrox.

"At the minute, I feel I could but the new season is not until August, so there are a good three or four months before I am at that stage," he commented.

"To be honest, I've not got a decision to make because I've not got any options at the minute.

"I have enjoyed every minute of it at Rangers but I'm obviously not getting any younger. I have got to be sensible and make a realistic decision.

"I feel good, I enjoy my football, I enjoy going to my work and I am working with great people but I have also got family considerations and other issues I have got to be fair about."

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version