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SLIDING DOORS

Inside Rangers icon Walter Smith’s ‘long chat’ with Derek McInnes on Gers job as Killie boss says ‘I’ve a story to tell’

The Killie boss has also been mourning the loss of another Ibrox legend this week.

DEREK McINNES has given a rare insight into the conversations he had with late Rangers great Walter Smith prior to knocking back the chance to be Gers boss.

The Kilmarnock manager was approached by the Ibrox men back in 2017 but decided to stay at Aberdeen after six weeks of speculation.

Derek McInnes says he feels a void after the loss of mentors Smith and McGraw
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Derek McInnes says he feels a void after the loss of mentors Smith and McGrawCredit: Kenny Ramsay
Rangers’ manager Walter Smith waves to the fans
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Rangers’ manager Walter Smith waves to the fansCredit: Reuters
Derek McInnes helped induct Allan McGraw into the Scottish football hall of fame
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Derek McInnes helped induct Allan McGraw into the Scottish football hall of fameCredit: Kenny Ramsay - The Sun Glasgow

McInnes has been speaking the sense of loss he still feels over the absence of Smith - plus the passing this year of another mentor in former boss Allan McGraw.

And he's given fans an insight into the conversation he had with the man he called 'the gaffer' - his former Rangers boss Smith - but hinted there will be more revelations to come later.

McInnes - who also paid tribute to legendary Ibrox coach Tiny Gallagher, who passed away this week - told the Daily Mail: "I did have a long chat with the gaffer [back in 2017]

"Listen, I have a story to tell about that whole episode.

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"It's not the time to do it now.

"I felt that Walter wanted me to be the Rangers manager, but he also had his concerns for me with it.

"It was his advice and, while he left me in no doubt that it was my decision, he was involved in every step of the way there.

"The gaffer had an influence on most of my big decisions. And when I look back now, I wish I had spoken to him MORE to be honest.

"I was talking to my old teammate Charlie Miller the other week and he said the same thing.

"We still can't believe he has gone and we all miss him. We really do, we miss him.

'It sounds mad, because I would go periods of time without speaking to him or seeing him.

"But not being able to pick the phone up or see him at different events has created a void."

"I was just as sad to hear this week that "Tiny" (former Rangers employee Mary Gallacher) had passed away.

"We used to sit playing cards and chewing the fat as Tiny gave us one cup of tea after another.

"It was just such a good place to be. Every club needs people like that to make things tick."

McInnes keenly feels the loss too of father figure McGraw - who pitched him into first team action at Cappielow at an early age.

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"There was an aura [about McGraw] because there was nobody who had ever worn a Morton jersey who was more significant than he had been.

"I never wanted to let Allan McGraw down, just as I never wanted to let the gaffer down at all. Ever."

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