Charlie Nicholas has launched a stern defence of new Rangers boss Michael Beale after the Englishman came under fire for jumping ship so soon in to his reign as Queens Park Rangers manager.
Beale is back at Ibrox, this time in the hot-seat, after being Steven Gerrard's second in command during their three-and-a-half years in Glasgow that saw the Scottish Premiership won at the expense of Celtic. The Englishman then went on to follow the Liverpool icon to Aston Villa before landing the role at Loftus Road and serving less than 30 games in charge.
This led to Rs fans sharing their dislike for Beale's decision to accept the job of being Giovanni Van Bronckhorst's successor after such a short spell in London. Beale was spotted in the Ibrox crowd while the Dutchman was still in charge, but Hoops hero Nicholas believes this isn't a big deal and that the 'conspiracy theorists' around Beale's appointment should stay in their lane.
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He said in his Scottish Daily Express column: "It's ridiculous that some people are trying to take the moral high ground by accusing Michael Beale of disloyalty for quitting QPR for Rangers. Anyone who genuinely thinks there is much loyalty in football is kidding themselves. Angry QPR fans are calling Beale a hypocrite, reminding the manager of his explanation for rejecting the Wolves job last month, when he insisted 'integrity' and 'loyalty' were big things for him. However, if results had deteriorated at QPR, do you think their board would have thought twice about sacking him? It works both ways.
"A lot has also been made about Beale being invited back up to Ibrox in late October to take in the Aberdeen game. He also attended a London-based Rangers supporters' club to watch the team's Champions League qualifier against PSV Eindhoven in August. Big deal!
"All the conspiracy theorists are saying Steven Gerrard's former No.2 at Ibrox was obviously being lined up for Gio van Bronckhorst's job. It's nonsense. Beale can do what he wants. I don't recall anyone jumping to such conclusions when he was back in Glasgow. Nobody thought for a minute that he was coming back to Rangers. Beale himself probably didn't imagine the club would come calling, even if Van Bronckhorst was to be sacked. The only box that all this stuff ticks is Beale's desire to return to Rangers."
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