by Lindsay Herron

WALTER SMITH has paid tribute to Celtic great Tommy Burns by describing him as one of the best people he has ever known.

Former Celtic manager Burns lost his battle with cancer on Thursday and the news came as a massive blow to the Ibrox management team of Smith, Ally McCoist and Kenny McDowall who all worked closely with him.

Burns was part of Smith's staff during his two years with Scotland and, of course, McDowall worked closely with Tommy at Celtic Park.

The Rangers manager said today: "I was fortunate enough to know him well for the past four or five years and he was one of the best people I have ever met.

"It was a real privilege to work with him during our time with the Scottish national team.

"So many of the staff here have worked with him with Scotland - Ally McCoist, Jim Stewart, Pip Yeates and myself. And, of course, Kenny McDowall worked with him at Celtic. We were all really saddened to hear the news.

"Of course, it will his family who will feel it the most and our thoughts are with Rosemary and the family.

"A lot of people did not get to know him personally but he commanded great respect from Rangers fans because they knew he was a real Celtic man.

"He came through the ranks starting in the youth team and right through to the first team and then went to manage the club. There are very few people who had done that.

"He was also synonomous with everything that was good about Celtic. He was proud of that and so he should be."

THERE WILL BE A MINUTE'S APPLAUSE FOR TOMMY BURNS AT TOMORROW'S MOTHERWELL MATCH