Graeme Souness, widely rumoured to return to Rangers for a second spell as manager, is not the man to succeed Walter Smith at the end of the season, according to fans' spokesman John Macmillan.

Macmillan, general secretary of the Rangers Supporters Association, believes the nine-in-a-row Scottish champions will have to look outside Britain for a successor.

But he feels it would be inappropriate for Souness - now employed in an advisory capacity at Torino - to head back to Ibrox for a second term as manager.

Macmillan said: "David Murray (Rangers chairman) commented when Souness decided to join Liverpool that he was making the biggest mistake of his life. "I tend to agree with that and I am not convinced bringing Souness back would be the right move. I have an open mind about who should succeed Walter, as I am sure most of the supporters have.

"But at the moment I cannot see anyone in the UK being named in his place -there are no big names available. Celtic have brought in a Dutchman, Wim Jansen, and he seems to have turned things around.

"All credit to him. Maybe it goes to show that you don't need to be a household name to get the right results. Rangers' horizons stretch far beyond Scotland now. The new manager will be expected to maintain our success at home and improve our record abroad."

Smith, who replaced Souness as manager in 1991 when the former Scotland star left for Liverpool, announced on Tuesday he will leave in the summer.