Sport

Soccer news: Everton in talks with Smith

The former Rangers manager Walter Smith may be named as the manager of Everton before the weekend

Wed Jul 01 1998 - 01:00

The former Rangers manager Walter Smith may be named as the manager of Everton before the weekend. Last night he was talking with the Merseyside club's chairman Peter Johnson, only hours after he had been expected to confirm he was taking charge at Sheffield Wednesday.

Wednesday had gone so far as to announce a press conference for yesterday afternoon when they planned to unveil him as the successor to Ron Atkinson, whose contract was not renewed at the end of last season. But less than three hours after releasing details of Smith's imminent arrival at Hillsborough they unexpectedly cancelled their press conference, declining to give a reason.

Although it is believed that Smith had verbally agreed to join Wednesday, he had not formally committed himself to a contract and he accepted Everton's invitation to discuss the managerial vacancy at Goodison Park.

Smith stepped down as the Rangers manager in May after seven years in charge at Ibrox during which they won seven league championships - they were pipped by Celtic this year - two Scottish Cups and the Scottish League Cup. He insisted he needed a fresh challenge, preferably in the Premiership.

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