KEVIN THOMSON has thanked Walter Smith for shaping him as a player and a person as he paid tribute to the former Rangers manager.

Smith tragically passed away this week at the age of 73 and warm words of respect have come in from across the game for one of Scotland's most iconic figures.

Thomson would win two league titles, two League Cups and a Scottish Cup under Smith's guidance after making the move from Hibernian in 2007.

The 37-year-old is now manager of Kelty Hearts and admits the influence of Smith has been defining throughout his career as he reflected on the impact the Ibrox legend had on him.

Thomson told RangersTV: "Everyone knows how much the manager meant to me. He was a role model, someone who gave me an opportunity to play for a wonderful club.

"To this day, I try and conduct myself, live my life and carry the same kind of class as him. He was an unbelievable man.

"I don’t think you can get to the level Walter go to without having that edge, that fear factor within the players.

"I was probably unfortunate to feel his wrath at times. But even if he gave you that wrath, he had the knack of making you feel ten foot tall the next day.

"Just the way he was with people, the class he carried, always made you want to go that extra yard for him, whether he gave you a rocket or a pat on the back. It’s the trait of a special person.

"The biggest thing he improved for me was that being ordinary wasn’t good enough at this club.

"I tried to carry that through my life, to be better every as an individual, as a dad, as a coach, as a mentor, as a role model. Those are things I took from Walter."