Shittu's wage demands too high for Smith

RANGERS boss Walter Smith has admitted the club were unwilling to meet Watford defender Danny Shittu's wage demands.

Smith abandoned plans to sign the Nigeria international yesterday despite having a bid, believed to be £1.5million, accepted by the Coca-Cola Championship club.

Rangers spoke to the former QPR defender, who joined Watford in 2006, but could not agree personal terms.

"We have not accepted his demands, so it looks like that is it because it has been going on for a wee while now," said Smith.

"It has nothing to do with a gulf in wages between the Championship and the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, it was just a situation where he wanted more than we were prepared to pay."

Rangers already have options in central defence, with Carlos Cuellar, David Weir, Andy Webster and Christian Dailly available to Smith.

The Ibrox club were linked with Hearts' central defender Christophe Berra earlier this summer but new Jambos manager Csaba Laszlo has already stated his intentions to keep the 23-year-old at Tynecastle.

After the deal for Shittu broke down, Smith was left with more concerns when midfielders DaMarcus Beasley and Charlie Adam suffered injuries in a 1-0 friendly win at German fourth division side Preussen Munster.

Adam, who scored the game's only goal with a penalty, suffered a minor ankle injury but Beasley's hamstring problem was the more concerning problem.

Smith said: "DaMarcus looks as though he has a bit of hamstring trouble and we're disappointed that has happened.

"Charlie also went over his ankle but he is okay and that should clear up without too many problems."

Smith reserved special praise for Kenny Miller, who hit the post in a lively second debut for Rangers following his £2m switch from Derby, a transfer which has proved unpopular with many fans.

Miller, who had a short spell with Rangers' rivals Celtic between his stints at Ibrox, could also feature in Wednesday's game against Sportfreunde Lotte. Smith said: "He hit the post just after the break and, all in all, played very well in his first outing for the side."