Rangers legend Ally McCoist says his excitement level over Michael Beale’s imminent appointment is “six out of 10” and reckons the main reason he is getting the job is because the “the players seem very comfortable with him".
Beale is set to be unveiled as Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s successor with the Londoner due to sign a three-and-a-half year deal to return to Govan just a year after departing for Aston Villa along with Steven Gerrard.
McCoist admitted his surprise at the move given Beale’s lack of experience as a boss in his own right having taken over his first senior managerial job in the summer when he was appointed QPR gaffer. He has lost four of his last five in charge after a flying start at Loftus Road. The Scotland strike legend says he must sort out the recruitment and after being asked to mark out of 10 by talkSPORT presenter Laura Woods, he hesitated which she said told its own story. He then added: “It’s not going to be a 10 and it’s not going to be a one. It’s somewhere in-between – probably about a six to tell you the truth.”
Woods said that was "tepid" and he added: “You threw that question on me so I didn’t know where I was going with the answer. Is a six okay? I 100 per cent give him my total support because who ever takes the job you want them to do well but I’m a little bit surprised, I can’t lie to you. I’m a little bit surprised. I’m very aware Michael Beale knows the club and did very well with the players beforehand and the players seem very comfortable with him which is probably the main reason he’s getting the job.
“Flip side of the coin, I’m surprised because they’ve gone for someone with a lack of experience in terms of management. He started very well at QPR but they have lost four of their last five. He’s not getting it on current form. He’s getting it on what he’s done previously under Steven Gerrard. It’s definitely a surprise because I genuinely thought they might have gone for someone with more experience because he is very experienced but he knows the club and was there for a good period with Steven Gerrard and left with Steven Gerrard.
“But it’s obviously a gamble the board feel is worth taking and time will tell. The fans will, understandably, get behind him right away but it’s a big job and the biggest thing he’s got to do is get the recruitment sorted. He knocked back Wolves so I’d imagine QPR’s nose will be out of joint because when he said no to Wolves they would make the assumption he’s really happy at QPR and want to stay there and do the job but the lure of Rangers has been too great but I can understand that.”
McCoist admits getting signings right is essential, adding: “The recruitment has been poor, make no mistake. You’ve got to say to be fair to Giovanni van Bronckhorst. He won the Scottish Cup and was a penalty kick away from the Europa League but this season he’s lost real quality in Calvin Bassey and Joe Aribo – the decision to let Leon Balogun go completely baffles me – and you lose Nathan Patterson.
“You lose good players but also a big part of your team physically. And then the lads they’ve brought in we haven’t seen enough in whether it’s (Ben) Davies, (Ridvan) Yilmaz and you’re spending a lot of money on these guys. The one they’ve missed is Tom Lawrence. Antonio Colak has done well in terms of goal return but defensively we went into a Champions league game playing an 18-year-old kid and American midfielder on loan. It can’t happen at any level - and certainly not Champions League.”
READ NEXT
