No big deal for Ibrox faithful

would have thought he would have made the effort, so close to signing

for Rangers as we are led to believe is the case.

But no, Paul Gascoigne's chubby little cheeks and silly haircut were

elsewhere, but to be honest few who wear the red, white, and blue around

their necks in Govan of a weekend seemed to be too fussed where the

Lazio player was, and quite right. After all, big Richard and the lads

again had the premier division trophy in their grasp, and it soon would

be time to toast and toast the seven-in-a-row Scottish champions.

But to a neutral there was almost a feeling around the old ground

that, OK, the title was again in Rangers' safe keeping but it wasn't

enough. More had been expected.

Call it greed, call it, well whatever you like really, but the people

who roll up to witness Rangers' finest at work week in, week out, have

been brought up on a diet of rich living, and although they cheered

their lot when the title silverware was presented, for a club like

Rangers, daft though it may sound, the title was one thing but that was

it. Just one thing, one trophy.

Still, there is always next year and if Gascoigne eventually puts pen

to paper for the Glasgow side, not to mention the other world-class

players supposedly in the #10m Ibrox pipeline, heaven help the rest of

the clubs in Scotland because it will be a case of ''who's gonna be

second'' from now until the bad place freezes over.

Did Rangers end the season in style, turn on the old razzmatazz and

send the customers off home satisfied? Well, the sight of Gough and his

pals with the league trophy sure had the locals smiling as evening

approached, but before that, against a team which probably cost what

Gazza is expected to earn in a month wherever he ends up, the Teddy

Bears had no picnic.

Yes, yes, title won, little at stake and all that, but Rangers' fans

are asked for plenty and expect a good return, like watching the

opposition net being filled at regular intervals.

They tried, of course, at the weekend but found Partick Thistle's

resistance to be a real pain in the neck, and when the Firhill side's

outer defences were breached there was always Nicky Walker.

If there is a better keeper in the land than Walker, this

correspondent has yet to witness him at work. Time and again at Ibrox he

thrust out a hand or leg to thwart Rangers' attackers.

However, with many Rangers' supporters making for the refreshment

kiosks near the break, Walker was beaten when Craig Moore, who looked

really at home in the centre of his team's defence, nipped in to beat

the Thistle keeper with a header from close range.

That was it then, the south side of Glasgow heard that ''Walter

Smith's blue-and-white army'' were in good voice and looking forward to

more goals, and then the presentation knees-up could begin.

But Thistle didn't play ball, or rather they continued to stroke the

ball over the grass, looking dangerous on several occasions, and Alex

Taylor, who earlier had struck the base of Ally Maxwell's left-hand post

with a fine drive, completed some good work by young Stuart Ayton by

belting the ball past substitute keeper Andy Goram for the equaliser.

As, no doubt, many Rangers' fans headed for their favourite hostelry

to carry on the toasting, Walter Smith announced that although Gascoigne

still was dithering, two of the current Rangers staff will sign new

contracts this morning, Ian Durrant, for three years, and Alexei

Mikhailichenko, for 12 months.

Smith is keen for the Gascoigne situation to be cleared up toute de

suite as the domestic bliss which exists in the Smith household is being

strained.

''I've said everything I can about this subject,'' said the manager.

''The situation is still the same as it was last Saturday, and people

keep phoning me at all hours of the morning, afternoon, and night. The

Mrs is getting annoyed, which is even worse, because she starts moaning

at me.''

But while Smith combs Europe in search of the creme de la creme for

Ibrox, Gerry Collins, the Thistle assistant manager, and his superior,

John Lambie, will be sifting through other teams' cast-offs. ''We will

look at the free transfer lists and take it from there,'' said Collins.

But if anyone can produce a team for next to nothing it is the

management lot at Firhill.

Ayton was discarded by Rangers two years ago and in the short time he

had on the grass on Saturday after having come on as a substitute,

showed that he could well be one for the future.

Meanwhile, for goodness sake sort yourself out, Gazza, and allow

tranquility to return to the Smith household. Oh, the joys of football

management, eh Walter?