SIR DAVID MURRAY will finally live the dream next week when he watches Rangers contest a major European final.

After 20 years at the helm, the Edinburgh- based tycoon has invested millions throughout two decades.

But, ironically, he will see an Ibrox side get to a Uefa Cup Final despite spending nothing like previous teams.

For his manager, Walter Smith, there will always be a debt to Murray after he appointed him in the wake of Graeme Souness's departure in 1991.

And Smith said: "He gave me my biggest opportunity when Graeme left for Liverpool.

"At the time, it would have been easy for him to offer the job to anyone in British football, because the Premiership hadn't really taken off then.

"He took a chance on an untried manager and I will always be indebted to him for that. He asked me to come back again and he was one of the main reasons for me coming back.

"Looking at his 20 years as chairman, they have been outstanding.

"The chairman has had to handle a few problems along the way and did so well. That he still has the enthusiasm speaks volumes for the type of person he is."

Smith for the first time then revealed the background to the announcement in October 1997 which confirmed he would leave Rangers at the end of that season, a campaign which saw the club fail to land ten-in-a-row.

"I was nicely sacked," Smith smiled, "I felt that my time was up and we sat down to discuss it.

"The players were coming to the end of their careers together and I felt it was time for change. I felt it might benefit everybody and he agreed with me. It was the right decision."