Queen's Park Rangers have started the search for their new manager - resigned to the fact that Michael Beale is leaving for Rangers.
And it's being reported that the man who replaced Beale at Aston Villa - Neil Critchley - is on the radar of the Championship side who are on the outskirts of the play-off places.
West London Sport say that Beale is now in formal talks with Rangers after Ross Wilson convinced the Ibrox board that he is the man to revive the club's fortunes after the dismissal of Gio van Bronckhorst on November 21 after the Light Blues slumped to nine points behind rivals Celtic.
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QPR are now looking at former Blackpool boss Critchley, who has a track record of bringing through young players, but he is also on Bournemouth's wish list as an assistant to Gary O'Neil who has just become permanent boss after working as caretaker after the sacking of Scott Parker.
It all means that the path is clear for Rangers to appoint Beale with the Rangers players due to return to training on Monday to get ready for the resumption of the Premiership with a clash against Hibs on December 15.
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