Bain cited the examples of Greece at Euro 2004 and also Manchester United over recent weeks to address the point that Smith's favoured 4-5-1 formation is a noble rather than negative tactic.

Rangers stand to take their European earnings this season to around £22million after Wednesday's UEFA Cup final in Manchester, and a proportion will filter through to bolster Smith's transfer kitty.

The manager has already been told his budget, and Bain has pledged that Rangers will support his plans.

Some of the funds brought in from the European run will go towards improving Rangers' overall financial position.

But Bain told BBC Radio Scotland: "We also need to look to strengthen the team.

"Walter has made the point about (wanting) a little bit of additional quality and that's something that we started planning prior to reaching the final anyway.

"Walter knows what he's getting from that money. We've prepared the budget and we'll stick to that budget because we have to.

"That's not to say that there's any kind of negativity around that. We know what our supporters demand and we know the quality that they like to see on the pitch."

Rangers have been accused this season by various opponents, including Barcelona forward Lionel Messi, of playing the game in the wrong spirit by making defence their priority.

"Some of the negative comments about how we've played to get to the final have been disappointing," Bain said.

"If you look at the Greeks in 2004 they won one of the biggest prizes in world football, you look at the way Sir Alex Ferguson plays his team at Manchester United at the moment with only one striker up front.

"I've not heard anybody talk about negativity from their performance and their perspective.

"Walter has got us to where we want to be, a European final, and how we got there I'm sure to the Rangers supporters is irrelevant.

"They'll just be delighted we're here."

Bain also added to the debate over Rangers' hectic fixtures programme by suggesting senior men with experience of working in top-level football clubs should be involved in big decisions.

Rangers had wanted today's Clydesdale Bank Premier League game against Dundee United to be postponed, to allow them more time to prepare for Wednesday's match against Zenit St Petersburg, their 19th game in European competition this season.

The SPL rejected the request, prompting Rangers chairman Sir David Murray to suggest the League were making Scottish football a laughing stock.

Bain said: "It makes me smile wryly when I see some of the comments of support we've had - from Sir Alex Ferguson and George Burley just to name a couple.

"I just wonder sometimes if legislators, making the decision that they've made, understand the demands in club football.

"It would be nice maybe if people who have been involved at this level of club football were making some of these decisions."