George Overhill

Fri 25 November 2022 18:40, UK

Michael Beale faces a “very difficult decision” to leave QPR for a return to Rangers, according to former manager of both sides Mark Warburton.

The current Loftus Road boss is widely believed to be the chosen one to take over at Ibrox after Giovanni van Bronckhorst was sacked on Monday (21 November), but the move is as yet incomplete.

As a key part of Steven Gerrard’s regime that won the 55th SPFL title Beale has a key inside track with the Light Blues board, and the man he succeeded in west London knows a return to Glasgow will be difficult to ignore.

Speaking to Sky Sports on Thursday (24 November) the now-West Ham coach said: “It’s a fantastic opportunity and Michael will know that, but as far as I understand it nothing official’s gone through yet.

“He’ll recognise the club. He’ll have very good relationships within the club, established with his working with Steven, so should it come along it will be a fantastic opportunity and I’m sure very hard to turn down.

“I think the fact that he was offered a job with Wolves and he chose to stay at QPR speaks volumes for his thought process and what he’s looking to do with his career.

“So I’m sure it’s not a done deal by any means yet… but to manage a club of Rangers’ stature is always a magnificent opportunity.

“Should it go ahead, he’ll have a very difficult decision to make, that’s for sure.”

In demand

With less than half a season as a first team manager there will remain some doubts about Beale until he has had longer to prove himself.

But having been appointed by QPR from Gerrard’s Aston Villa staff in the summer, and having already turned down a Premier League job at Wolves this season before Rangers came calling, he must be doing something right.

There has been some criticism of his appearance at Ibrox while Giovanni van Bronckhorst was still trying to manage his way out of the slump, but having made the trip and spoken so glowingly about the club subsequently the expectation is that he takes the job.

Beale does seem to be enjoying being in the limelight, and the process dragging on through the week may be starting to allow a few worries creep in for the fans.

But it would be a major about-turn if he backed out now, so as long as he isn’t making unreasonable demands financially it would be odd for the Ibrox hierarchy to hesitate.

The squad needs rejuvenation, and while Van Bronckhorst may feel hard done by that he didn’t really get the chance to benefit from spending in the transfer market, whoever comes in will need some help in that way.

But both sides will need to hurry up if they are to follow through with this move as training starts again on Monday (28 November).

In other Rangers news, an award-winning coach has now been tipped as the perfect option to take up the assistant manager role at Ibrox.