Smith no window shopper

Walter Smith has tempered expectation of a late shopping spree before next week's transfer window deadline, admitting he may be frustrated in his attempts to bring in new faces.

Rangers have made an increased offer to Wigan for Lee McCulloch, have had a second bid rejected by Falkirk for Alan Gow and have retained an interest in Scott Brown and Paul Hartley. Jeremy Clement's £1.8m transfer to Paris Saint-Germain has increased funds, yet Smith warned he may have to settle for more short-term cover, having signed David Weir from Everton and Ugo Ehiogu from Middlesbrough.

McCulloch's move hinges on Paul Jewell finding an adequate replacement, a search which has thus far proved futile. Celtic continue to lead the chase for Brown and Kevin Thomson although it is understood that their £4m bid that would allow Hibernian to keep the pair until the end of the season has been rejected.

The Herald understands that Sir David Murray, the Rangers chairman, is dealing directly with Rod Petrie, Hibs' chief executive, over Brown, thus by-passing the player's controversial agent, Willie McKay.

"We have bids out there but, if we don't get them, we don't get them," said Smith pragmatically. "The one thing I'm not going to do is dive into the transfer market and take players who I really don't want.

"I do not want to sign someone on a two or three-year contract for the sake of it, then he is left not getting a game. If someone comes along, I want to make sure he's a player I feel can help the squad. If we can't get the players we want in the transfer window, we may take a loan player here and there who can cover one or two positions where we're not well covered."

At the announcement of Smith's return to Rangers Sir David revealed £8m had been spent on transfers and, most tellingly, pay-offs since Alex McLeish left nine months ago. Smith will not risk financial stability with panic buys at the end of his first window.

Rangers' manoeuvring at the bargain end of the market has proven costly, with Dragan Mladenovic, Marvin Andrews, Jose-Karl Pierre-Fanfan and Olivier Bernard all having recently accepted handsome severance packages to leave the club.

"The transfer deadline pushes people to make decisions that, if they had more time, they wouldn't make," said Smith. "We have short- and long-term aims and the immediate one is until the end of the season. Because of the nature of the window, the selling club can ask for more money knowing they will probably get it in the last few days. That's the same in any business and it is an obvious factor. Everybody gets involved and it's an awkward situation.

"It's the first time I have had to deal within it and it does bring a frenzy. When it was spread over the year you never really had that kind of impact."

Hearts have already stressed they are not willing to do business with an SPL rival for the transfer of Hartley. Vladimir Romanov would accept £1.25m from any English suitor but Rangers would have to pay a premium at a crucial stage of the challenge for second place and Champions League qualification.

Falkirk, meanwhile, announced they rejected a slightly increased offer of £100,000 plus appearance-based add-ons for Gow. The 24-year-old will sign a pre-contract agreement if the clubs cannot settle on a fee, but if Rangers fail to sign McCulloch, they will up their offer for Gow.

Smith will not consider offering a short-term deal to either Charlie Miller or Mark Fotheringham after the pair were given training facilities at Murray Park.

"Charlie was only ever here for training and Mark has a few offers from other clubs. Obviously it let us have a look at them but nothing will be happening," he said.

Rangers have received £1.8m from the sale of Clement, which will be added to the funds left over from the Paul Le Guen era. Smith, though, expressed sadness that the 22-year-old midfielder elected to return home after only seven months in Scotland.

"I'm a bit disappointed to see him go. He is a young player and I would have liked him to stay but like everything else, if he is unhappy then we wish him the best of luck," he said.

"He is playing for a club he wants to be at and there is no point in holding on to somebody who doesn't want to be here. He had an opportunity to go back to France with PSG. He could have gone back to Lyon but wanted the opportunity to play regularly."

Lionel Letizi is likely to follow Clement, with the ex-PSG goalkeeper slipping to third-choice goalkeeper behind Allan McGregor and Stefan Klos. As yet, Rangers have had no offers for Letizi or any other players whose opportunities will diminish under the new regime.

Ehiogu is almost certain to partner the other new acquisition, David Weir, in central defence when Hearts visit Ibrox this afternoon. Karl Svensson is expected to be demoted despite a more assured contribution in the back-to-back wins against Dundee United and Dunfermline. "I had a good response from Karl there and it's a decision I will need to make tomorrow," said Smith.

Rangers will open an eight-point gap with victory against a team who have won just twice at Ibrox in the last 11 years. A Joe Hamill goal sealed a win in 2004, while Allan Johnston scored a hat trick in a 3-0 victory back in 1996.

"We find ourselves in the same position in that we haven't been consistent over the course of the season," said Smith. "Hearts are not as consistent as last year and neither are Rangers. We are a lot of points behind Celtic and are vying for second place. It's a big game for both clubs."

Taken from the Herald