WALTER SMITH will be officially announced as the new Rangers manager within the next 48 hours - but in a dramatic twist MailSport can reveal he wants to stay on as Scotland boss to guide them through the Euro 2008 qualifiers.
Smith will meet with SFA supremo David Taylor tomorrow at Hampden along with Ibrox chief executive Martin Bain to finalise details. However, he has vowed not to walk out on his country - if Taylor agrees to a job share.
It's understood Smith has told Sir David Murray that if he's to return for a second spell at Rangers it's on the understanding the SFA will be given the choice to retain his services on a part-time basis.
Taylor has been made aware of this proposal and - along with the SFA's executive committee - is considering what's best for the national team.
Scotland's next games aren't until the end of March when they play at home to Georgia then face Italy in Bari.
Smith has guided the national team to wins over France, Lithuania and the Faroe Islands to leave the country with a great chance of qualifying.
He's reluctant to walk out altogether on Scotland and that's why he has offered a compromise.
Juggling both jobs will put tremendous strain on him but he's ready to do it.
Smith was first sounded out on Wednesday night for the Rangers job as Paul Le Guen was preparing to leave. And it's understood the financial security from the role at Ibrox has swayed him.
The wording of Smith's contract as Scotland gaffer means he could be out of a job in the autumn as all ties are severed as soon as our chances of Euro 2008 qualification come to an end.
If Scotland did qualify it would cease once we were knocked out.
Dialogue between Bain and the SFA has started over compensation and the offer of keeping Smith on for the 2008 campaign and will be sorted one way or the other tomorrow evening, allowing the new Rangers gaffer to be paraded at Ibrox on Tuesday.
Smith will receive a substantial transfer budget as he bids to make Gers the No.1 force in Scottish football again.
Should the SFA decline his offer, names in the frame to take over include Alex McLeish, Kenny Dalglish, Graeme Souness, Tommy Burns, Gary McAllister, Jim Jefferies and Craig Levein.
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