Mail on Sunday

Enduring Love ; a Sense of Duty Drove Smith Back to His Beloved Rangers and a Fergie- Like Hunger for Success Means That, Even at 60, Retirement Remains a Long Way Off, According to Mccoist

ALLY McCOIST may be the heir apparent to the Rangers throne, but he has a sneaking suspicion that Walter Smiths abdication may be a few years off. Ibroxs king of goals during his playing days, McCoist is now playing the role of dutiful prince at the side of a manager who, as he turns 60, is thriving in his second spell in charge. One should not underestimate the effects the effervescent McCoist has brought to bear on his boss, first during his time as a Scotland coach and now as his assistant...

Walter Still Rues Freak Negri Injury That Was so Costly in Pursuit of 10-in-a-Row Immortality

AS he looks back on his 60-year-old life Walter Smith has few regrets, but Rangers failure to secure 10 in a row during his first spell in charge stirs the occasional pang of frustration. Ten years have passed since that pivotal 1997/98 season when Celtic reclaimed the SPL title thanks to a final-day win over St Johnstone and made sure their record of nine consecutive titles remained unbeaten. With Fergus McCann loosening the purse strings and Dutch coach Wim Jansen in charge, the reasons for...

Papac Is Happy to Play His Part in Ibrox Mens Hectic Schedule

SASA PAPAC believes he is the perfect example of why Rangers are equipped to cope with the forthcoming fixture pile-up which casts a shadow over the remainder of their season. The Bosnian defender is one of Walter Smiths most reliable defenders and has come into his own in the clubs European games this season. But he is occasionally left on the sidelines at home as a more attacking full-back option, such as Steven Whittaker, is deployed.

Weirhas No Doubts About Smiths Euro Game Strategy ; Rangers Veteran Insists His Bosss Winning Ways Are Spot On

WHEN the respective sides line up for the Rangers flair-play debate, David Weir stands squarely alongside his manager, Walter Smith. The veteran centre-half talks as he defends with a calm, measured authority and its difficult to argue with his reasoning that his bosss tactics are the reason for Rangers progression to the last 16 of the UEFA Cup.

Munich Mauling Hasnt Spoiled Walkers Dream

A CRUSHING defeat by Bayern Munich is hardly the ideal way to celebrate a birthday, but Josh Walker is certain it is the right preparation for a career in the Premiership. Just six weeks after the midfielder played for Middlesbroughs youth team on a public park, watched by a handful of spectator, he jousted with European giants before a 66,000 crowd in the Allianz Stadium to mark a 19th birthday which he will never forget. While Jimmy Calderwood will seek to keep Englands youth captain beyond...

Ballack Warns Chelsea Superstars Not to Cross Boss

MICHAEL BALLACK has a simple message for those Chelsea team- mates who find themselves axed from Avram Grants first Wembley Cup Final today: Dont go whining to the manager. Grant is expected to puncture some big egos. He has a winning team to pick and 24 international players to choose from.

The First Date with Destiny for Hutton, a Spurs Legend in the Making ; Chelsea V Tottenham Today, 3pm, Live On Sky Sports

A MONTH ago Alan Hutton could be found clinging stubbornly to the hope that he would be playing against troubled Gretna at Ibrox today and the financial sweeteners on offer were failing to grease the grip of his thinking or loosen that lock towards London. Finally, the resistance was broken down and, instead, Hutton will play only his third game for Tottenham Hotspur against Chelsea in front of 90,000 supporters as Wembley Stadium hosts a terrific capital derby clash for a Carling Cup Final.

Ross Still Boss After Spiders Scare ; Second and Third Divisions

ROSS COUNTY continue to set the pace in Division Two thanks to a stunning late strike by Paul Lawson in a 3-2 win over Queens Park. But they survived a fright after taking an early two-goal lead, with the amateurs fighting back to level. Michael Gardyne and Andy Barrowman eased County 2-0 ahead but Mark Ferry and Alan Trouten hit back for the Spiders. Lawsons 35- yard drive won the points with seven minutes left. Second-placed Airdrie Uniteds match against Berwick was washed out but Raith Rov...

Economy Class ; with 30 Goals This Term and an Pounds 8m Buy-Out Clause, No Wonder Siralex Is On Fabianos Trail

MA NCHESTER UNITED were mob-handed in Barcelona last weekend. While Sevilla were destroying Espanyol up on the Olympic hill of Montjuic, one of Uniteds most senior talent-spotters plus members of the clubs recruitment team from Spain and Portugal were watching attentively. It was a re-run of last seasons Hampden UEFA Cup Final but this time there were six goals, not four and the Andalusians cracked in four of them to depart with the points.

Forget Atletico, Ive Saved My Big Guns for Rovers, Says Megson

GARY MEGSON has warned Boltons UEFA Cup heroes to expect the bench at Blackburn after admitting he has kept his big guns in reserve for todays Ewood Park clash. Bolton sealed a last-16 clash with Sporting Lisbon after stunning Atletico Madrid by sealing a two-legged victory with a 0-0 away draw on Thursday. But boss Megson insists that Premiership survival is all that matters.

Kyle Gem Lifts Drab Wolves

C PALACE 0 WOLVES 2 TWO superb late goals took Wolves' points haul to 14 from their last 14 games but that was the only thing for boss Mick McCarthy to celebrate from a dire match.

Torres Treble Does the Trick

FERNANDO TORRES scored a sensational hat-trick to become the first Liverpool striker to score 20 goals in a season since Michael Owen. The Spaniard got compatriot Rafa Benitez out of jail after Liverpool, missing their regular defensive rock Jamie Carragher, had fallen behind.

Saving Reading Will Be Coppells Finest Hour

STEVE Coppell admits it will be the biggest achievement of his managerial career if he keeps Reading in the Premier League. They face in-form Aston Villa at the Madejski Stadium today after seven straight League defeats which have plunged them into the bottom three.

Jewell Fails to Prove His Case As Wigan Win the Argument

PAUL JEWELLS claim that he had not made the wrong choice in choosing Derby over Wigan was severely tested as the managers former side took a significant step towards Premier League safety by consigning County to another painful defeat. Second-half goals from Paul Scharner and Antonio Valencia completed the formalities of victory but the scoreline barely reflected the home sides dominance.

Pillow Talk with Dr Idzikowski

It is often commonly believed that dreams are over in seconds, but dont be so sure. Although were not certain exactly how long dreams take, they occur during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep which normally lasts about two hours. Q What makes us jolt awake just as we are dropping off to sleep?

Foreign Invaders Will Be the Foreign Invaders Will Be the Ruin of England ; Ossie Ardiles and Ricky Villa Were the Trailblazers for the Flood of Imports Pouring Into English Football but, 30 Years On, They Warn:

SEVEN thousand miles apart, two of the great names from Tottenhams past will sit down today to watch their old club battle it out with Chelsea in the Carling Cup final at Wembley. And if Ossie Ardiles and Ricky Villa care to count the number of Englishmen in the opposing line-ups, they may just afford themselves a wry smile. For 30 years ago the men from Argentina, fresh from their countrys World Cup triumph, were trailblazers for what has become a foreign i...

Success Story Grant Wants a Director

AVRAM GRANT has underlined his belief that he will be Chelseas long-term manager by asking Roman Abramovich to find him a director of football. Grant, originally the clubs director of football, was seen by many as a short-term solution when he succeeded Jose Mourinho as manager. But after guiding the team to only two defeats in 34 games, he looks set to stay.

Dont Waste Your Life As Best Did

DEAR PAUL I WISH Id had a pound for everyone who has stopped and asked me about you this week. Have you got any idea how popular you still are? And you know what they all say? Is there anything we can do? Of course, there isnt a lot any of us can do except hope and pray you have the good sense and strong will to listen to the professional experts who can help you turn your life around.

Folan Piles On the Misery for Jittery Albion

WEST BROMWICH ALBION are again showing clear signs of the promotion jitters after slumping to only their second home league defeat of the season. The FA Cup quarter-finalists have won just one of their past five Championship games which, worry-ingly for manager Tony Mowbray, have yielded just five points.

Halmosi Seals Plymouth Bid

PLYMOUTH 3 BURNLEY 1 PLYMOUTH cemented their play-off challenge with their fourth successive victory, courtesy of a double from winger Peter Halmosi.