Walter Smith enjoyed a trophy-laden career as a player and a manager, but the iconic Scot didn't always see eye to eye with his peers

John O'Kane has branded the late Walter Smith a "horrible c***," in a fiery social media rant, while blaming the Scot for his Everton exit.

The Nottingham-born defender kicked off his career with Manchester United in 1993, but only mustered two appearances for the Red Devils.

Instead, he spent the majority of his five-year stint with the club on loan to the likes of Wimbledon, Bury, Wrexham and Bradford City.

Having failed to make a mark at Old Trafford, O'Kane was moved on to Everton in 1998, but lasted just a year with the Toffees before he was on the move once more.

It was Howard Kendal who signed the talent to Everton, quickly becoming a regular starter under his reign.

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However, when Kendal was sacked and Smith arrived as his successor, he found himself dropped and sent out on loan to Burnley and Bolton Wanderers, joining the latter permanently in 1999.

And now, O'Kane has made his feelings clear on his former manager at Goodison Park, pulling no punches with a brutal social media post.

A fan signing O'Kane's praises wrote on X: "Should never have been allowed to leave Everton. Could have been our RB for 10 years. Proper rated him for us."

That ultimately prompted O'Kane to reply: "That would be down to Walter Smith pal...

"Didn't wanna know me from the off, he was a horrible c*** idc about saying it. Loved my time with Howard Kendal and the fans were brilliant."

O'Kane went on to spend two years with Bolton before joining Blackpool in 2001. He joined Hyde United in 2003, racking up 116 appearances before retiring three years later.

Smith, meanwhile, lasted four years with Everton, replaced by David Moyes in 2002 as a result of the Toffees finishing in the bottom half of the Premier League table for three seasons running.

He then served as Sir Alex Ferguson's assistant briefly before taking up tenure with the Scotland national team in 2004. In 2007, he returned to Rangers for a second stint with the club, guiding them to three league titles and five domestic cups.

The Lanark-born player-turned-manager died from cancer in 2021 at the age of 73.