Rangers hero Barry Ferguson reckons Michael Beale won't be an Ibrox 'yes man' and reckons he has 'unfinished business' in Glasgow.
The Light Blues have made the former No2 under Steven Gerrard the main frontrunner in their bid to replace Giovanni van Bronckhorst - who was sacked at the start of the week. It is reported that an official approach could come within the next 24 hours with the players due back to training to prepare for the second half of the season from Monday.
Ross Wilson and Stewart Roberson have been in London holding discussions with potential candidates for the role but it seems all fingers point towards the 42-year-old to land the top job. Former Rangers skipper Ferguson reckons the next FIVE games could paint a different picture in terms of the title race. Beale's lack of experience as a manager is a 'concern' but his appointment also comes with many pros including knowing the club inside out and the demands to win and be successful.
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Writing in his Daily Record column, he said: "I realise most people have already written off the league this season but that can’t be in the new man’s thinking. Rattle off four wins against Hibs, Aberdeen, Ross County and Motherwell - then beat Celtic at Ibrox on January 2 and it could be a very different picture. I’m sure that’s the way he’ll be looking at it because he knows how this club works.
"He has seen for himself what is required to be a successful Rangers manager and that includes the demands that have to be made of the board. He won’t be coming in as some ‘yes man’ who’s just happy to be there and who won’t rock the boat. If it’s his head on the block then I’m sure he’ll already have made stipulations with regards to what he expects to be done over the next two or three transfer windows. Otherwise, he doesn’t stand a chance.
"Look, there’s going to be a lot of debate over whether or not he’s the right man to oversee this massive task. He’s only been in charge of QPR for around six months and only has 20-odd games under his belt as a manager. So, yes, obviously the first concern is over his lack of experience. But is there a manager out there right now who Rangers could get that ticks every single box? That’s simply not going to happen.
"So yes, while Beale has only been a manager for a matter of months, there are also a lot of upsides to his appointment. At the top of that list is the fact that, after spending three years working under Steven Gerrard, he knows the club inside out and he is perfectly well aware of the demands of the job. He knows the magnitude of the club and the scale of the expectations which will be placed on his shoulders.
"And that obviously hasn’t scared him. I can’t help but wonder if there’s a part of him that feels like this is unfinished business. He saw what it meant to the fans and the club when they won 55. But that was during Covid restrictions and the celebrations had to take place inside an empty stadium.
"Had that been me, I’d have been looking around at the madness in the streets and outside Auchenhowie and thinking to myself, ‘How good would this be if life was back to normal?’. And I’d carry that regret around with me for a very long time. So maybe that’s part of the motivation where Michael is concerned. He’s had a little taste of what bringing success to Rangers feels like. And now he’s got the chance to experience so much more. As manager.
"Do I think he can handle the step up to becoming the main man? Yes, I do for what it’s worth. He certainly strikes me as a guy who is going to roll his sleeves up and work really hard to deliver. Only time will tell for sure. And I wish him all the best because, as my old mate Gio has just found out, that’s in short supply in this city."
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