QPR chief Les Ferdinand last night insisted he won’t stand in Michael Beale ’s way if the former Ibrox coach is serious about a return to Rangers.
Steven Gerrard ’s one-time No.2 has been installed as the clear favourite to replace Gio van Bronckhorst, who was finally sacked yesterday after weeks of speculation over his Gers future. Ex-Burnley boss Sean Dyche and Kevin Muscat - Ange Postecoglou’s successor at Japanese champions Yokohama - have been also tipped as serious contenders.
But Record Sport understands Beale is leading the race and IS interested in replacing the Dutchman. The Londoner was a senior figure in Gerrard’s backroom team as they led the club to its first title in a decade 18 months ago but left when the Liverpool legend was tempted back south by Aston Villa. Since then, the 42-year-old has gone out on his own after being appointed gaffer at Loftus Road over the summer. However, he remains close with the Gers board and was recently welcomed to Ibrox as a guest for last month's win over Aberdeen..
R’s director of football Ferdinand insists he’s yet to receive any word from Ibrox. But he confessed he will be willing to talk if Beale makes it clear he’s interested in the Ibrox vacancy.
Ferdinand told Record Sport : “I haven’t spoken to Michael or Rangers about this. But I expected Michael’s name would be mentioned for the role at Rangers because he did such a good job while he was up there working with Steven Gerrard. I don't want to have to fight to keep anyone at QPR. I want people who want to be here. That’s the only way we can move forward.
“If they want to be somewhere else, that’s what they’re going to do. We’d have to have a conversation. It’s not that I’d be happy to have it but I only want people at the football club who want to be here.”
Rangers will be hit with a bill of around £3.5million to pay off van Bronckhorst and his backroom team. And it’s understood they will need to find another £1.5m if they want to land Beale. There’s obviously a compensation package in Michael’s contract and if he decided he wanted to go to Rangers, that’s something that would have to be discussed,” added Ferdinand.
Beale is likely to come under consideration. But it’s believed Rangers will speak to more than one candidate as they want the process to be rigorous as possible. However, neither do they want it to turn into an interviewing marathon.
The Gers board finally pulled the plug on van Bronckhorst and his rollercoaster 12-month reign yesterday morning. The former Feyenoord coach had only marked his first anniversary in the job on Friday but in truth he’s been battling to save his position for weeks.
It was a spell in charge that involved soaring highs and bitter lows. The 47-year-old - who spent three years as a player at Ibrox - launched the club on a remarkable European journey following his November appointment.
Having dumped out Borussia Dortmund, Red Star Belgrade, Braga and RB Leipzig, his side only missed out on Europa League glory against Eintracht Frankfurt after the agony of penalties in Seville. The defence of the Premiership crown crumbled after a heavy 3-0 defeat to Celtic at Parkhead in February but the Dutchman did at least end the club’s 13-year wait for a Scottish Cup triumph.
This season seemed to have got off to a positive start when victory over PSV banked Gers a massive UEFA windfall and a return ticket to the Champions League after a decade in the wilderness. But the group stage adventure turned into a nightmare as a team depleted by injuries and the sale of key men Joe Aribo and Calvin Bassey suffered a series of heavy defeats at the hands of Ajax, Napoli and Liverpool.
That horror show run saw Rangers crowned the worst team to ever qualify for UEFA’s top tournament. But it’s the club’s stuttering Premiership displays that have ultimately cost van Bronckhorst his job, with last week’s draw in Paisley the final straw as Gers fell nine-points adrift of Postecoglou’s rampant Hoops.
Rangers’ announcement of the manager’s departure made no mention of his backroom team but Record Sport understands Dave Vos, Roy Maakay, Arno Philips and Yori Bosschaart will be departing along with van Bronckhorst. Chairman Douglas Park said: “I want to thank Gio for the hard work he has put in over the last 12 months and, especially, the achievements of taking the club to the Europa League final and winning the Scottish Cup last season.
“Unfortunately, recent results have not met neither our nor Gio’s expectations, and we have taken this difficult decision today. Everyone at Rangers wishes Gio every success in the future.”
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