Anthony Onifade

Fri 2 June 2023 8:10, UK

Former Rangers midfielder Barry Ferguson hopes Ange Postecoglu remains at Celtic next season so that Michael Beale can knock him off his Celtic perch.

The Gers ended the 2022/23 campaign trophyless with old-firm rivals Celtic on the verge of another historic treble should they beat Inverness CT on Saturday in the Scottish Cup final [3 June].

The Aussie coach has been the subject of plenty of interest elsewhere with Premier League outfit Tottenham Hotspur interested in his services to become their new manager [The Sun, 1 June].

And speaking in his Daily Record column [2 June], Ferguson hopes the Aussie manager remains in Glasgow to set up another “mouthwatering” rivalry next season, but also predicts that Beale could attract interest elsewhere should he succeed like Postecoglu has achieved at Celtic.

He said: “There’s a big part of me that’s hoping Ange Postecoglou stays put at Celtic this summer and tells Spurs and their big-mouthed supporters to ram it. Yes, of course, all of us who have Rangers’ best interests at heart might be relieved if the big man does disappear over the border next week when Tottenham make their move. After the last two years, it would be only natural to want to see the back of him.

“But there’s a big flip side to that coin. The bottom line is, we want as many talented managers and players in Scottish football as we can get our hands on. And, as much as it might pain me to admit it, Postecoglou has been a different class since arriving at Celtic.

“From a Rangers point of view, I’d like to see what Michael Beale plans to do about stopping him in his tracks. And I’d love to think the Englishman has enough in his locker to go toe-toe-to with him next season and come out on top.

“And that all makes for a mouthwatering prospect as well as a really healthy rivalry at the top end of the Scottish game. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure Beale won’t be shedding any tears if Postecoglou does end up moving to his home city. But I do believe the Rangers manager is also relishing the battle and would love nothing more than to prove he can take the Aussie down.

“But the reality is, if Beale does as well as I hope he does next season then it could be Rangers who are in this position in 12 months’ time.”

Beale relishing battle

Indeed, Beale has taken Rangers to a new level under his management despite the club’s trophyless campaign and has already kicked off his plans for next season underway having completed transfer moves for Kieran Dowell and Dujon Sterling.

The Rangers coach is certainly relishing another battle with Postecoglu and Celtic next season and will be hoping the Aussie remains in Scotland so that he can prove what it takes to finally topple the Hoops.

It simply won’t have the same effect, should Postecoglu leave to join the Premier League and be replaced by another coach.

Celtic have been pleasing on the eye all season long and that is down to the Aussie’s transformation, it will be a sweet sight for Rangers fans to see if Beale can fully challenge them next season, and considering the number of times Rangers have been defeated by their Old Firm rivals certainly makes next season such a mouthwatering prospect even for the neutrals.

As Ferguson predicts, Beale could very well find himself attracting plenty of Premier League interest too should achieve the unthinkable next season, as he is a very talented coach and certainly has English top-flight football in his future.

For now, though, he has a big job on his hands at Rangers no matter what happens across town at his Old Firm rivals.

In other Rangers news, official partner Heart & Hand Podcast has shared a two-word reaction to a brand new Ibrox signing.