Rangers approach SFA over Smith

Scottish Football Association chief executive David Taylor has confirmed Rangers have contacted the SFA over Scotland manager Walter Smith.

Smith and former Rangers striker Ally McCoist are strongly tipped to take over as the new Rangers management team this week.

Taylor told BBC Radio Scotland: "We will be having discussions with Walter tomorrow (Monday) and maybe later in the week."

"Walter is under contract as national team manager," he added.

"There has been some contact with Rangers but at this stage we need to speak to Walter and take matters from there."

Taylor confirmed he had spoken to Smith since media speculation began about the 58-year-old former Gers boss' possibly returning to Ibrox to succeed Paul Le Guen.

He said: "Obviously I have been in contact on the telephone but it is not a telephone conversation that sorts out these things. We need to sit down and clear up a number of things.

"Alistair is in a slightly different situation because he is an assistant coach and he is not an employee like Walter - he is not under contract."

Taylor admits losing Smith at a time when he has transformed Scotland's fortunes following the turbulent Berti Vogts era would be a huge blow.

Scotland sit top of their European Championship qualifying group ahead of World Cup finalists France and Italy. They face games against Georgia and the Italians at the end of March and there have been suggestions Smith could continue in his role as Scotland boss on a part-time basis.