The manager is a side issue: for now.

Change is coming, that much is evident. If not on the pitch then certainly off the pitch.

The question is: what type of change are dealing with? Will this be a complete overhaul akin to an old empty building being transformed into a shiny new structure or will it be a hurricane forging a path of destruction leaving things worse than they already are?

Walter Smith has been very clever tonight, whether he meant to or not. What he said is nothing new (as the following quote backs up) however coming from Smith it is certainly newsworthy.

From the sounds of it, it looks like a slip in confirming that indeed the banks are running Rangers. It doesn't sound like it was his intention to say that this evening but to a certain extent it removes some pressure from him - not that the media have put him under any great deal since Tuesday.

The focus will now shift to new ownership and Smith's damning revelation that messrs Bain, Murray and Johnston were (possibly) withholding the truth when they declared that the banks were not running the club.

Rumours earlier today regarding Dave King's interest in the club, and one other as yet unnamed party, will only add fuel to the fact that the manager and the players will be a side issue in the coming weeks as far as the future of the club is concerned.

Smith went on to confirm another rumour regarding the decision to appoint two non-executive directors to the board. A strange move at the time given we were preparing the club for a sale. It turns out at least one of these appointments has been made to speed that process up.

I wasn't planning on writing this article tonight, I had formulated an article based on my opinion shifting slightly in favour of a new manager being brought in as soon as possible, however, in light of the choppy seas off the pitch in the very near future, a steady hand, while frustrating and negative, is required on the pitch to steer us through into hopefully calmer waters.

If Smith was the only man to lead us through the coming turbulent period, then in light of the few snippets we've heard today he becomes even more important. Now is clearly not the time to be wasting time thinking up Dutch dream teams who can come in and wave a magic wand and make everything better. We have a crucial period coming up. Let's just see how this pans out before we start screaming for the managers head (again).

I realise the Rangers fans and this dear old forum of ours don't do patience but I see it as the only option currently.

As I said at the start, WHEN a new owner is forthcoming and they have had sufficient time to make their mark, let's pray we can have the renevation, without the devastation of the hurricane.

Walter today provided us with a quote which backs up what I and a few others have been harping on about for months now.

The only thing that stays the same is that everything changes.