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Scotland boss Walter Smith will return to Rangers for a second spell as manager after the departure of Paul le Guen, BBC Sport understands.

Former Ibrox striker Ally McCoist, on Smith's coaching staff with Scotland, will also be part of the new set-up.

Le Guen had only been at Rangers for 200 days, and left after stripping Barry Ferguson of the captaincy.

Smith helped Rangers win nine successive titles before resigning in 1998 and moving to Everton.

Both Smith and McCoist have played a pivotal role in Scotland's stunning start to their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign.

The SFA insist that Smith is still in charge of the national team and that no official approach has been made by Rangers.

And Smith may yet be able to combine both roles of Scotland coach and director of football at Ibrox, although whether this would suit Rangers chairman Sir David Murray remains to be seen.

Scotland are the surprise Group B leaders in the Euro 2008 qualifying phase, ahead of world champions Italy and World Cup runners-up France, who they beat at Hampden Park, and would be reluctant to lose Smith or McCoist.


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But it is likely the pull of returning to the club where both men achieved legendary status is likely to prove too much.

Sheffield United assistant manager Stuart McCall could also be part of the new management team which may see McCoist and McCall take the reigns in the long-term.

Smith has maintained close links with Rangers' chief Murray, even after leaving Ibrox.

Former Scotland boss Craig Brown confirmed the pair's close relationship had been maintained in recent times.

He told BBC Radio Five Live: "The chairman is very, very close to Walter Smith and Ally McCoist and they would make an excellent appointment in my opinion.

"There would have to be a compromise if Walter was going there.

"There is a possibility in the short term of him doing both jobs, there's been a precedent for that.

"Guus Hiddink was PSV manager and also managed Australia and Mark Hughes for a time did both jobs for Wales and Blackburn.

"It is far from ideal but you could imagine it being a short-term solution."

Brown suggested that Italy's World Cup winning coach Marcello Lippi could become a contender, if Murray was to consider another manager from abroad.

"Of course Marcello Lippi's not in employment at the moment and he's a world champion," said Brown.

Brown believes Le Guen had not come to terms with the Scottish philosophy.

And he said of Le Guen: "I suspect he didn't quite appreciate the Scottish psyche.

"And another thing that was quite significant was that when he was so successful at Lyon in France he inherited a successful side and it was a maintenance job there."

Speaking later on BBC Radio Scotland, Brown would not rule out a return to his old job with Scotland - if the SFA were left without a manager for their remaining Euro 2008 qualifiers.

Brown said: "I would be flattered but it's very hypothetical at the moment."

Former Rangers captain Richard Gough, who also played under Smith at Everton, believes he would be the perfect choice.


This is one of the occasions when the supporters of the club would be delighted to see a Scottish manager in charge
Richard Gough

Gough told BBC Radio Scotland: "They say you should never go back but I think this is one of the occasions when the supporters of the club would be delighted to see a Scottish manager in charge."

As for whether he would be interested in a coaching role, Gough said: "Mr Smith knows where I am, let's just put it like that."

Ian Durrant will take charge of the first team for Sunday's Tennent's Scottish Cup third round tie at Dunfermline Athletic, and he is looking forward to the challenge.

"With Paul leaving, we now just have accept the situation and get on with it," said Durrant, a former Ibrox midfielder and Scotland international.

"It's hard to keep Rangers out of the press anyway, but now we all have to focus and move on for the good of the club."

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