WALTER Smith was always wryly amused by his nice-guy image. Six years ago, in a Prague hotel, he was at pains to tell me that there was absolutely nothing quiet or gentle about him, that he was not slow to bawl out players when the need arose, that he was passionate about being the ninth manager of Rangers, that he was prepared to take the hard decisions.

I mentioned this to one of his players, who had better be nameless but who was a notable suf-ferer under the previous regime of Graeme Souness. ''Yes, the boss can be tough,'' he agreed, ''but at least he does not clatter you at a training session.''

Let us not underestimate Smith's man-management skills. Paul Gascoigne, and he is the first to concede the point, is still playing at the highest level only because Smith rescued him from a trail of self-destruction. By a combination of stick and carrot, the manager persuaded Gazza that he had much still to give; the respect of one for the other is considerable.

Indeed, within the Rangers dressing room today there will be a genuine sadness that the gaffer is moving on or up. Smith did shout, but not in any maniacal fashion; when you faced his anger you knew that you deserved it.

There are also those who are well aware that they have let him down, mainly with their off-the-field activities, which have brought the club, and them, into disrepute.

The most notable Smith fault was loyalty; it was not always reciprocated.

I have known five of the nine Rangers managers pretty well. Scot Symon was a gent who would rather have had his nails pulled out than be seen in a track- suit. He was a highly successful leader but did not have the authority to challenge the autocratic rule of chairman John Lawrence. Symon was sacked in the shabbiest of circumstances.

Willie Waddell was a legend with whom I worked when he did a spell as a sportswriter. Behind the gruff exterior, and the cloud of cigarette smoke, there was a warm-hearted kind man, a boss of the old school. But he really believed the game should be played as he played it. Club loyalty was all. He really detested those who asked for more and more money.

John Greig was the captain courageous, promoted almost immediately, and too quickly, to management. He was unlucky. The team then was past its best, and he began to wilt under the severe pressure that goes with this job. His family were abused - eventually he walked sideways, and has been a tremendous asset to the public image of the club ever since.

Jock Wallace I did not know well, but Graeme Souness I do. The truth is, Graeme was just too flammable to live in the cauldron that is the Rangers management. To his great credit, he despised the bigotry of sections of the club's support - and of some of the board.

His life might have worked out differently had he persuaded Smith to go with him to Liverpool. And he tried, because Souness knew Smith was a winner, and that is what he has proved to be.

Measured by any standard, Smith is the most successful manager Rangers have ever had. Yes, Europe became a cross too heavy to bear, yet he very nearly pulled off a major coup in his first European Cup campaign.

Domestically, he was invincible; if there is any argument about that just spend half an hour in the Ibrox trophy room.

And Smith, despite all his protestations, did not become a monster. He remained the devoted family man he always was; he retained his sense of humour, as someone trained by Jim McLean would require to.

He brought composure to panic situations, he answered the daft questions put to him, he was ever courteous. A lot of media people are going to miss him very much.

I enjoy his company, and hope to do so again in the future. Maybe now I will be able to get him to a rugby international at Murrayfield.

If we are to believe the forecasters, Walter will, indeed must, be succeeded by a coach from the continent, preferably with three names. Richard Moller-Nielsen, Sven Goran Eriksson or maybe Chico Harpo Groucho for all I know are in the frame.

This astonishes me. These gentlemen may have excellent records in European competitions, though the first named seems a little close to his bus pass, but how will they fare on a wet Wednesday night at Dunfermline?

The job description for this post should read as follows: ''The successful applicant should prepare a team that will win a minimum of two major domestic competitions per season - not losing to Celtic at any stage - and reach at least the final of a European tournament. Anything less will result in dismissal.''

For these reasons I firmly believe Rangers require a British manager. Only one of that number understands the intensity of the Old Firm, the expectations that breed at Ibrox. Yes, I concede that Wim Jansen at Celtic may be the exception to prove that rule, but he still has to prove it.

Are there any Scottish candidates? A case could certainly be made for Craig Brown. Here is the man who, from a very ordinary pool, has fashioned an international side that has marched confidently into the World Cup finals.

Brown would definitely be able to plug Rangers' leaky defence - just look at the Scotland record. Oh, but it is a far cry from running the Scotland outfit to managing a major club side on a daily basis. And I am not sure that Brown would wish to switch roles.

But the fact remains that both jobs are about managing football players and bringing the best out of them. Brown has an impeccable record at both. Perhaps having one brother at Parkhead and another at Ibrox is politically unacceptable; still, Craig would be a strong candidate.

I would like to think David Murray would consider young, proven talent. Hearts' Jim Jefferies falls into that category, though he is maybe not a big enough name.

Let us look at the hardest league of all, the English Premiership, and see who might be available there. Alex Ferguson told me he thought highly of Mark McGhee at Wolverhampton but, as a former Celtic player, he might not go down too well with the Bridgeton Loyal.

Martin O'Neill at Leicester is one who has proved himself, taking his club to a Coca-Cola cup victory without breaking the bank. I get the impression Kevin Keegan may not be joined at the hip to second division Fulham - Rangers might well be the challenge he relishes.

There would be those who would fancy Terry Venables. ''Tel'' would certainly brighten the quotes from Ibrox. Whether he would be taken to the hearts of the Ibrox following is more debatable.

Fergie himself? Probably he wants to finish his career at Manchester United and has three years of his present contract to run. But, if you never ask, you'll never know.

The return of Souness? I don't think this is a runner. Graeme tells me he is a reformed character, taking life in his stride these days. A few months dealing with the SFA and he might well wind up back in the hands of the medics.

My most likely candidate, the one happy to show his medals, is George Graham of Leeds. He is a Scot, a life-long Rangers fan, a manager of successful sides, though convicted of taking a backhander.

Graham has served his time for that, and deserves to be forgiven. He was not the only sinner; he was the required prize fall-guy.

The fact is, he made much out of little at Arsenal, and he is in the process of doing the same at Leeds. Rangers will not worry about winning 1-0 as long as they get to Europe and make an impression.

Graham's record of doing just that is much more impressive than all the Danes, Swedes and Dutchmen put together. And Rangers fans will not appreciate, nor tolerate, a patient build-up if it comes to nought.

To follow Smith will be no easy task. It will take a man who has thick skin, someone who knows the depths, as well as the heights, who understands the passions generated by this club.

''I can think of no better job in the world,'' Walter said to me. Nor few harder.