Michael Beale insists he was not trying to undermine Gio van Bronckhorst with a VIP visit to Ibrox during a rough period for the Duthcman
The new Rangers gaffer took in the Aberdeen game on October 29 when the fans were turning against van Bronckhorst after a scrambled home draw with Livingston in the Premiership that followed a laboured League Cup win over Dundee and another Champions League humbling, losing 3-0 away to Napoli.
His QPR side had just lost the night before to Birmingham the night before and the had a game away to Norwich on the Wednesday. Beale was also spotted drinking in a well known Rangers pub after the game.
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Van Bronckhorst was bemused at why a fellow manager would do that - especially someone who was seen as a rival for his position - but Beale has completely denied that he was out to put pressure on van Bronckhorst and insisted that his visit was weeks in the planning.
He said: “It was disappointing people think that. I’d been away a year. My plan was always to come back and do a game as a fan really.
“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 he is (upset) so I don’t think I need to have that conversation.
“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.”
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