Michael Beale must acknowledge the perception but quickly dismisses the conspiracy theory. He is now in the right place at the right time.
A return to Glasgow and to Ibrox had been some weeks, months even, in the making for Beale. There was nothing sinister, he insists, about the moment that he chose as he watched the Premiership win over Aberdeen in late October.
The situation was delicate. Giovanni van Bronckhorst was under increasing pressure and Beale was already being touted as a potential successor following an impressive start to his managerial career at Queens Park Rangers.
The Englishman posed for photographs with punters in the pub and shared a warm embrace with Connor Goldson before taking a seat in the Directors Box. Those around him were once his boss and, as fate would have it, the phone would soon ring once again.
The most illustrious seat at Ibrox now has Beale's name on it after he was named as the 18th Rangers manager this week. Amid condemnation and criticism from QPR fans over a perceived lack of loyalty, Beale had to address another issue regarding his conduct following an innocent appearance that could be taken the wrong way.
"It was disappointing people think that," Beale said. "In previous years, Rangers had played Europa League on Sundays and Thursdays.
"I’d been away a year. My plan was always to come back and do a game as a fan really. I’d always wanted to come up and watch Rangers as a fan over the years then found myself working here inside.
"That trip was planned five or six weeks previously. If that’s the perception, I hope Gio don’t think that because it certainly wasn’t my intention.
"I just came back to watch the game and see a few people I hadn’t said goodbye to in the community I lived in.
"I’m not led to believe [Gio was put out by it] so I don’t think I need to have that conversation. I think at the moment, when a manager leaves a job, you have to respect and give him a little bit of time.
"I’d met him once previously when we played away at Feyenoord. He came to see Steven and have a chat. I met him then.
"I think he’s a class human being and thought he did a good job here. For whatever reason, the last few months have not worked out how anyone planned."
The same could be said for Beale, albeit for very different reasons. His time at Loftus Road has proven to be short-lived and a return to Ibrox on a permanent basis has come around sooner than many could have expected, himself included.
The 42-year-old spoke of his loyalty to QPR after rejecting a move to Wolves as his stock rose to new heights. Just weeks later, those words have been thrown back at him by a disgruntled support in London.
Beale spoke about the difficulties of uprooting his young family once again and how those considerations played a part in his decision not to move to the West Midlands despite the obvious lure of working in the Premier League and the financial rewards on offer.
Glasgow has become home for Beale and he admitted that Rangers was the one club he would walk away from QPR for. Now his work life and private life have reached equilibrium once again.
"It’s not been easy with a young family," Beale said. "The kids have not settled. They were due to come back and live in Glasgow regardless.
"Around the Wolves situation, those conversations come up behind the scenes. That’s where I think it’s unfair. Because people were aware of all of that.
"That’s where I think it’s unfair. Because people were aware of all of that.
"Also, it’s Glasgow Rangers. It’s a huge football club and one I’ve got a big affinity for.
"I lived an amazing experience here before and I left with a lot of really strong positive relationships with people who are still here now. I just think people have maybe neglected that.
"I said some very nice words about the QPR project because I was the manager of the football club and that’s what I believed at the time.
"As I said, there are not many managers who turn down a Premier League job. This one, I wasn’t willing to turn down."
There have been discussions about Beale becoming Rangers manager for a lot longer than the period between the pressure mounting on Van Bronckhorst and his appointment on Monday evening.
He has previously dismissed the notion of him being the brains behind the operation that delivered title 55 last May and again spoke appreciatively about the influence of Steven Gerrard on him personally and professionally. It was only natural that the former Rangers manager came up in conversation as Beale addressed the media in the Blue Room.
"His words to me last year on going to be a manager were fantastic towards me," Beale said. "He did not make it difficult for me to go. Actually, I thought it was fantastic.
"This is what it was all about. When we came together here in May, or was it June, 2018 he was acutely aware that I had aspirations to be a manager and in the time that I was here previously Ross’s phone went a few times and there were options for me to go and be a manager.
"I think our relationships will aways be intertwined because of the time we had here. We share the odd message and ideas and as long as he don’t come and compete here in Scotland, we will be all right!"
When Gerrard sat in the same position as Beale four-and-a-half years ago, his infamous line of ‘let’s go’ became a marketing slogan and supporter mindset in an instant. At that moment, the Gerrard revolution was off and running.
There was no such soundbite from the main man on this occasion but Beale was polished in front of the cameras as the faces of Rangers royalty looked down on him. He knows all too well that actions will ultimately speak louder than words.
"I sat amongst them a few weeks ago and I heard the moans and groans," Beale said as he delivered his own message to the support and vowed to have them ‘excited’ and ‘energised’ going forward. "I know what’s coming if we don’t [do well].
"But certainly I haven’t got that slogan – because that slogan was almost genius! I was trying to top it but I couldn’t so fair play to Steven. I don’t even think he thought that out, he just said it!
"But no, I think they are the most important people at this club and that’s been shown over the years with the support they have given the club to get back to where we are now.
"This club got back to where it wanted to be. Winning the league and getting into the Champions League and thrown into that it got into a European final as well, so let’s not make out everything is broken round here.
"Because for me it was broken at other times. This is the time to go forward."
That direction of travel is non-negotiable for Beale. He is building for the future but has already taken inspiration from the past as he puts his mark on the team and the club.
Players will be expected to wear a suit, shirt and tie on their way to Ibrox once again. It may be seen as a minor detail, but it speaks to the history that Rangers are proud of and the standards to which they should always be held.
“I think you have got to know that you are coming to a club that is different to the norm,” Beale said. “When you come to this club, there are traditions and I would like to stay close to them and as close as possible to them.
“When you come in, you should know about this club and know what it stands for. There is a certain element of class that we want to portray and I think the element of putting that suit on to come here on a matchday, it is just a mental thing for me. It shouldn’t be lost.”
