Walter Smith has acknowledged the fact that he needs to trim his squad and it looks like this trimming could take place in January. Smith has also been told by chairman David Murray that he can only buy in an emergency but he will probably be hoping that any money he receives in January will be available for him to spend.
“There are 28 people in the senior squad and that is a big staff,” Smith told Rangers News. “First and foremost, we must deal with that situation as we don’t need that many players and we have to address it.”
He added: “Understandably, some of the boys aren’t happy they’ve not been involved as regularly as they would wish.
“In all probability, our staff will be cut down more than anything else but that doesn’t stop us from looking at one or two positions we might need to fill as well.
“Obviously, we have to do that in conjunction with people who may leave in the January transfer window. It may well be we just go with the squad we have at the moment.”
Were Smith to bring players in, his priority would appear to lie in bolstering his roster of defenders. Recent injuries have forced him to field forward Lee McCulloch at centre-back in recent games.
However, Smith has not ruled out McCulloch providing long-term cover in the position, while Andy Webster returns from a loan spell at Bristol City in January.
“Defensively, Lee has come in and played in a position where he hasn’t really played before except in the reserves over the last month or so,” Smith said. “He has done really well in that area and we are pleased with the progress he is making at the back.
“Andy will also come back to us from Bristol City and that will alleviate our situation there too. We’ll see what happens when his loan agreement ends.”
