Wednesday, 19th June, 2013
New Rangers signing Stevie Smith has insisted that he is a better player now, and does not have any regrets in having left the Ibrox giants in 2010.
Smith was snapped up by the club yesterday, and subsequently also became the sixth signing for Ally McCoist’s side this summer.
The 27-year-old full-back played for the Gers between 2002 and 2010 before moving to Norwich City. He also lifted the Scottish Premier League title with the club in the 2009/10 season.
The Scottish footballer has been a free agent since leaving MLS side Portland Timbers last December. He had joined the club last summer, following a seven-month spell with Preston North End.
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And Smith is now looking forward to playing in his second stint with the Gers, and has explained that his hunger to play is not gone yet.
“It was the right time for me to leave before to try something new but having come back, I feel I’m a better player now”, Smith told his club’s official site.
“Some people might think experience comes from playing 500 or 600 games but I’ve probably experienced things in the last two or three years that will stand me in good stead.
“I really enjoyed playing in America and while the MLS maybe gets negative publicity here, over there it was great.
“I was playing in front of full houses every week in places such as Seattle and it was really good for me.
“I never lost the hunger but playing there gave me an extra push and told me I wanted to play in front of big crowds and I want to win games.
“Working with some of the players there, who maybe aren’t the best in the world but work as hard as anyone I’ve ever seen, was good and it rubbed off on me.”
Smith made 64 competitive starts for Rangers in his first spell.
The Ibrox giants start their 2013/14 campaign in the Scottish Second Division against Brechin City on 10th August.
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