Rangers not in any hurry to cash in on coveted Cousin

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The Gabon international's ninth goal of the season earned Rangers a 2-1 win which extended their lead over Celtic at the top of the SPL to four points.

Exit-bound Kenny Deuchar cancelled out Ibrox skipper Barry Ferguson's superb strike before half-time with a towering header straight from the resumption.

But it was £3million-rated Cousin, poised to attract a bid from Premier League side Fulham in the coming days, who had the final say with a 74th-minute winner.

Armed with a summer exit clause in his contract, Cousin is also attracting Wigan and Middlesbrough, but Smith insisted: "Everybody keeps saying players are linked. But does that mean, if someone shows an interest, they leave Rangers?

"It doesn't, it just means they show an interest. People can show any kind of interest they want in any player - but it doesn't necessarily mean they are going to leave.

"He is scoring some goals for us at the moment and we are obviously happy to keep him."

Cousin's winner came, ironically, after Rangers fans who made up the bulk of a Fir Park crowd of just 6,137, had booed the decision to replace Steven Naismith with Jean- Claude Darcheville before the Rangers winner.

Added Smith: "He is one of those guys, Daniel, who gets a goal even if the overall performance doesn't match up with it. You have to put up with that, there are quite a number of strikers like that."

Cousin had admitted earlier in the day in the club magazine that a strong offer might precipitate his departure saying: "I am very happy here but if a better offer came in from somewhere, I would have to consider it. Any footballer would do that.

"Should such a situation arise, I would need to talk to the manager and the chairman about it. But I am pleased with things as they stand at the moment and I have no problems with staying at Rangers just now. None at all.

"Now I am only looking forward to the challenge ahead. We have some hard games coming up and I am determined we will win them and claim the title."

Team-mate Brahim Hemdani hopes Cousin will stay at Rangers, saying: "I don't know his situation, but he is at the club for the moment. It's not easy to come from abroad and play. You need time to adapt and it is the same for every foreign player. Now he is doing well and it's good to see him in good form."

As for a less-than-inspiring performance on the night, the end result was all that mattered as former Kilmarnock player Naismith was denied two loud penalty claims, while Gretna keeper Tony Caig came close to a red card when he seemed to handle outside his area as Cousin hovered.

Added boss Smith: "There is always an element of frustration about refereeing decisions. But there was more frustration with the way we played tonight, because we know we can play better. We have played better and I'm certain we will in forthcoming games.

"It was just a night when we had to win and we did. We were obviously delighted to get the goal before half-time, though disappointed to lose one which gave Gretna a lift.

"We managed to get in front again, then held on. We didn't play half as well as we have in the last half-dozen games or so, but we are just delighted to get the win.

"Gretna have made it awkward for a number of teams here."

The defeat extended a wretched Gretna run of just two wins in 20 league games and was tough on striker Kenny Deuchar, whose header straight from the kick-off put the relegation toilers back in the game.

"That was the story of our season - in Old Firm games anyway," admitted Gretna manager Davie Irons. "I felt we deserved something."

For Deuchar, a departure from the club this summer is now certain, despite last night's goal after he admitted: "The door is definitely closed for me. I told them that at the start of the season. I've personally spoken to other teams, but it would be silly of me not to speak to people now that I'm able to."