SFA WOULD BE SILLY TO SNUB SMITH

IT'S a couple of months now since Jim Traynor, in his Daily Record column, first wrote that Walter Smith is perfect for the role of performance director at the Scottish Football Association.

As is so often the case, Traynor was not only bang on the money, but, again as he often is, ahead of the game.

But in the immediate aftermath of that Traynor column there was no reaction from Smith.

Then, when Sir Alex Ferguson told Scottish Sunday reporters, ahead of the Champions League game, that he thought his old pal should not quit Rangers, Smith made it clear he was not for turning.

He used a special pre-arranged, and pre UEFA press conference, briefing with Scottish daily newspaper reporters in the Europa Suite at Old Trafford the day before the match.

It provided back pages for all of Scotland's newspapers - except one.

Just to remind you...that is the one Odious Creep swans around representing.

He missed out on the significant and cracking tale, because he failed to get there on time, thus denying readers of the Scottish edition of the Times, Smith's reaction to the Fergie story which had appeared in a number of mass circulation Sundays.

But enough of Creep. For now!

Since then things had gone kind of quiet on the subject of what exactly Smith will do when he steps down as Rangers manager at the end of the season.

That was until he appeared at Sunday's Scotland Hall of Fame function to pick up his award, and discuss that future.

And it is a future which, according to the best and most successful manager Scottish football has seen for more than 30 years, will see him stay in football.

Clearly he would not take on a role at any other club in Scotland, so unless his old chum at Old Trafford has something in mind for him, Smith is available to make a contribution to the greater good of Scottish football.

Armed with that information, Scotland manager, Craig Levein now has the chance to stand up and make it clear to his SFA paymasters they would be mugs not to approach Smith.

Levein, we have been told, will have a major input regarding who is appointed as Scotland's performance director.

Campbell Ogilvie, who will assume the presidency in the summer, will no doubt also have a major say.

When a Scotland manager is appointed the procedure is that the four office bearers, plus the chief executive, make a recommendation to the board of directors.

This time around new chief executive Stewart Regan's lack of local knowledge will needless to say make him less influential than Gordon Smith and David Taylor were.

If the board does not approve the name, then those office bearers - though on this occasion maybe not Regan - have no alternative but to resign.

That power is currently held by president, George Peat, first vice president Ogilvie and second vice president, Alan McRae.

Of course they will no doubt pay heed to the contents of the special report from former first minister, Henry "it's a muddle not a fiddle" McLeish.

But really, ask yourself the question....is there anyone better qualified for the job than Walter Smith?

It is question which has already been answered by one of the oldest and wisest heads in Scottish football, Craig Brown.

Motherwel's former Scotland manager, is both eloquent and wise. In fact, if Smith does not fancy a return to the SFA, where he saved Scotland from the brink of oblivion it had been taken to by Berti Vogts, then Broon is the obvious choice.

However, we have to remember, this is the Scottish Football Association we are dealing with.

The organisation which seemed in a hury to get rid of Brown, which inflicted Vogts on the nation, and even more recently, landed the Scots with George Burley.

Therefore the possibility of it making another mess of things is more distinct than distant.

Before landing themselves in another fine mess, the Scottish Football Association should take note of three things.

Number one....Jim Traynor pointed out two months ago, Smith is the ideal man to become Scottish football's director of performance.

Number two....Craig Brown has made clear his backing for Smith to be appointed.

Number three ... and most important of all, Walter Smith has given a clear indication he wants to keep working after he leaves Rangers.

Now then, what's that modern phrase? Ah yes....

IT'S A NO BRAINER!