Ally McCoist on heartbreaking moment live on air when he got call to tell him Rangers legend Walter Smith had died

ALLY McCOIST has told of his heartache astatine the passing of Scotland and Rangers fable Walter Smith.

McCoist, 62, worked with Smith during stints with the nationalist broadside and a instrumentality to their beloved Ibrox.

The much-loved Smith died aft a conflict with cancer successful 2021 leaving his family and friends devastated.

TV big McCoist has revealed however helium received the news his erstwhile mentor had passed distant aged 73.

Detailing the infinitesimal successful his caller book, Dear Scotland: On the roadworthy with the Tartan Army, helium said moments of football joyousness had turned to interest aft Smith confided his illness with him.

He said: “That joyousness turned to heavy interest erstwhile immoderate years later, Walter sat maine down for a chat and told maine helium had cancer.

“As usual, helium was disquieted astir the radical helium was telling, remaining upbeat and keeping that consciousness of humour, and arsenic the months passed – with the operation seemingly a occurrence – we hoped that helium had escaped himself of it.

“But the crab came back, and successful the autumn of 2021, we received the quality that helium had died.”

McCoist told however a telephone telephone from Smith’s lad Steven had broken the dreaded quality of his friend’s passing.

He said: “I was moving astatine TALKSPORT, doing the breakfast show, erstwhile I saw I had a missed telephone from Steven, Walter’s son. I knew what was coming.

“I’d been to the hospital and astatine the house to spot him, and truthful knowing however unwell helium was, I took myself distant to marque the telephone back.

“Silence. It is hard to cognize what to say, but knowing conscionable however overmuch Walter adored his woman Ethel, his kids and his grandkids, and the terrible grief they were present going through, my thoughts were instantly with them.

“Neil and Steven are 2 chips disconnected the aged block, the champion institution similar their father, and I americium truthful pleased to telephone the full household friends.

“In the spring of 2024, Rangers unveiled a statue of Walter Smith. It depicts the antheral beautifully, and is the cleanable tribute to each that helium gave to the nine and to the game.

“It stands connected the country of the Copland Road stand, a spot that Walter archetypal strolled on with his grandad Jock to spot the nine they loved, and 1 that helium would service truthful well.

“Walter served the full state successful truthful galore antithetic ways, and each the achievements, the titles and the medals that helium accumulated volition ever beryllium determination to punctual america of what helium did.

“They are not what truly matter, though. Not successful the agelong run. At Walter’s memorial service, I was honoured to beryllium asked to accidental a fewer words.

“In conclusion, I quoted the large American writer and activist, Maya Angelou, who wrote, ‘People volition hide what you said, radical volition hide what you did, but radical volition ne'er hide however you made them feel.’

"Today, I tin deliberation astir my person and whilst the symptom of not having him with america remains, it subsides arsenic I adjacent my eyes and deliberation of everything helium was to maine successful my life. I tin deliberation of Walter and I tin retrieve however helium made maine feel. Special.”

• Dear Scotland: On the roadworthy with the Tartan Army is published connected October 24.

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