WALTER SMITH believes Rangers can continue to take steps in the right direction and repay the support of the Ibrox crowd.

The legendary Light Blues boss returned to the dugout on Saturday to take charge of a side in a Legends clash to raise funds for the Rangers Charity Foundation and the Rangers Youth Development Company.

The years since Smith left Ibrox have been some of the toughest in Rangers’ history but he has commended the supporters for their unwavering loyalty to their club.

Smith said: “The one consistent factor we have had at the club over the last five years or so has been the support.

“Without a doubt they are the heart of the club. There is absolutely no doubt about that.

“There are very few clubs who have retained the level of support through the circumstances that Rangers have. They’ve given the club tremendous backing, all of the supporters over the last five years have been incredible. You can’t speak highly enough about them.

“Rangers were in territory which they haven’t been in before.

“They were down in the bottom division having never been there before so you can never be sure what will happen.

“It’s quite amazing when you retire and you’re watching Sky Sports on a Saturday afternoon and if Arsenal and Manchester United are away from home then Rangers have the biggest support against Elgin.

“It was a strange circumstance that the club found itself in but the supporters have stayed there.

“You can’t argue with that. It’s their season ticket money which has kept the club steady throughout those years. They are the one thing which will ensure the club keeps going.”

Rangers will have to watch on once again this term as Celtic get set to lift a seventh consecutive Premiership title.

The Scottish Cup gives Graeme Murty’s side a chance of silverware this term, however, and Smith hopes the Light Blues can swing the Old Firm pendulum back in their favour after a long winless run when the teams meet at Hampden next month.

He said: “There have been a few games where it’s been close and other where Celtic have been clearly the better team. Nobody can argue with that but it shouldn’t prevent you from making it a close affair.

“Rangers have to catch Celtic and the hardest task they have is making up that ground.

“If Rangers were to win it, it would show some tangible progress if they reached the final and managed to win it.

“If Celtic win again, then they have been the favourites and Rangers will have to carry on accepting the challenge of trying to catch them up.

“Celtic were in a similar situations a few years back and they did it, Rangers will have to follow that and keep trying to win.

“They have find a way to win and they then have to keep winning against Celtic, something that they haven’t been able to do in recent years.”