Football: Smith stands by decision on Gascoigne
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Your support makes all the difference.THE RANGERS manager, Walter Smith, has played down suggestions he exchanged words with an irate supporter during Tuesday night's 3-0 win over Motherwell that put his side into the Scottish Cup quarter-finals.
Some fans were angry at Barry Ferguson being taken off after 79 minutes, and the fact that Stuart McCall rather than Paul Gascoigne was chosen as the man to replace him.
When asked whether he debated that decision with any fans after reports of at least one being ejected, Smith said: "Who me? Do a thing like that?"
His justification for leaving out the England midfielder Gascoigne was no less succinct, saying: "I picked what I felt was the best team on the night."
He was more expressive when discussing his side's display which, while perhaps short on style, was an example of a professional job well done.
He said: "It was a pleasing performance from us tonight as we played very well from start to finish and it was the best we have done for a few weeks.
Andy Watson finally joined Hibernian as assistant manager yesterday, a week after being offered the job. He linked up again with his former Motherwell manager, Alex McLeish, at Easter Road and immediately got down to work.
Watson's final role as assistant manager at Fir Park was to take charge of the squad that lost 3-0 to Rangers in the Tennents Scottish Cup last night. Only a few hours later he made the short drive from his Edinburgh home to the club where he had a spell as a player. Watson cannot get away from Rangers, though, because the Scottish champions are Hibernian's opposition on Saturday.
McLeish was brought in to replace Jim Duffy last week with Hibernian rooted to the foot of the Premier Division.
The former Scotland international is delighted to have Watson on board. "Andy's strengths are his honesty, integrity and enthusiasm. I am delighted he is joining me. We work well together, and his presence is a vital one at training sessions and on match days," McLeish said.
Watson said: "I was first approached by Alex last Wednesday when he took the job and I said I would like to go along and be his No 2. But departing then would have left Motherwell in a difficult situation, so I agreed to stay and lead the team against Rangers and it was a pleasure to do so."
Financially stricken Partick Thistle could yet be saved by their own supporters after shareholders gave the go-ahead for a new share issue.
Brown McMaster, the club chairman, said: "The fans can now own the club. I have received six cheques worth pounds 1,000 each from supporters wanting to buy into the club. It's been a quite remarkable turnaround and I am excited by the prospect."
Partick face a crucial creditors' meeting within the next few weeks, but two-thirds of them have already accepted 40p in the pound. McMaster added: "If all the creditors agree, this will mean that the money we bring in from a shares issue will be working capital."
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