Walter out with nowt

Hearts 2 Rangers 1

WALTER SMITH bowed out as Rangers boss with the club failing to land a trophy for the first time in 12 seasons.

Saturday's Cup Final defeat against Hearts leaves the Ibrox club empty-handed.

But Smith, who has quit as manager but will stay on as part of the backroom staff, insists the club will bounce back next season.

He said: "The bad news for Scottish football is this is as bad as it gets for Rangers.

"The players will come back stronger than ever in the next few seasons, I can promise you that.

"Of course I am disappointed it should have ended this way, not just for myself but for everyone here.

Greatest

"However, it is not normal for a club making changes like we are to go down to the final day in the championship, then appear in a cup final."

In contrast, Hearts boss Jim Jefferies hailed this victory as the greatest day of his life as the Edinburgh club won their first major trophy for 36 years.

Jefferies said: "Our tactics were spot on. We had to change the way we played against Rangers after conceding 13 goals to them this season. We decided to let Rangers have the ball and try and break us down."

Hearts had the perfect start when Colin Cameron converted a first-minute penalty and Stephane Adam made it 2-0 in the 53rd minute.

Rangers sub Ally McCoist pulled a goal back to set up a tense final 10 minutes.

Jefferies added: "This has to be the greatest day of all our lives. But those last 10 minutes after McCoist scored were the longest 10 minutes of my life."