Smith had X-Factor just like Clough, says Gemmill

SCOT GEMMILL has hailed Walter Smith as possessing the same gravitas as Brian Clough as he paid tribute to the legendary former Rangers and Scotland manager. Smith died last month at the age of 73 and a public memorial service will be held in his honour today at Glasgow Cathedral. When at Everton, Smith signed Scotland international Gemmill for £250,000 from Nottingham Forest in 1999. Gemmill, who remained at Goodison Park for five years until 2004, saw parallels in the way team-mates in the dressing room responded to Smith and the way players responded to the legendary former Forest boss, Clough, who died in 2004. ‘A lot of people ask me what Brian Clough’s X-Factor was — and I think Walter Smith had a similar X-Factor because his players all wanted to play for him,’ said Gemmill, who is now in charge of Scotland Under-21s. ‘That is the biggest thing a manager can be given. He needs to get to that point if he is to do well. ‘Brian Clough’s players wanted to play for him and that was his X-Factor. ‘He created an environment where his players wanted to play for him and I think Walter did that, too. I think that’s the biggest compliment I can give Walter. ‘I think the tributes to Walter have been incredible and I fully agree with them. ‘I have enjoyed reading the tributes because of how highly I regarded him. They really communicated how highly Walter was regarded by people and how successful and influential he was. ‘He was a great man and a great manager. ‘He gave me the opportunity and the experience of playing for Everton. ‘He was brave enough to sign me for a club of that stature and I will always be grateful for that.’