Michael Beale tipped for Rangers exit as Ange Postecoglou leaves Celtic for Tottenham job
Kris Boyd is “sure” Michael Beale has plans to eventually leave Rangers for the English Premier League just like ex-Celtic rival Ange Postecoglou just has.
The Sky Sports pundit claimed he would be “delighted” if Beale followed the Australian down to the English top flight in good time as well, after the former Parkhead boss took over at Tottenham, because it will mean he has been a success.
Boyd believes that despite the size of the Old Firm as “institutions” there is little that can compete with the riches and the quality of the top flight south of the border, as has been proven by managers on both sides of Glasgow.
In his column for the Scottish Sun the ex-Ibrox striker said: “If the Rangers boss is the latest Old Firm gaffer to be poached by one of the big boys down south then it means he is doing a great job at Ibrox.
“I’d also like to think he would go with his head held high and with the best wishes of the supporters. Like it or not, the Glasgow giants are now a stepping stone to bigger and better things for both players and managers.
“It’s no more than a stopping-off point. Just ask the likes of Ange Postecoglou, Brendan Rodgers and Steven Gerrard.”
After wishing the ex-Parkhead boss the best he went on: “I’m sure that is Beale’s ultimate goal as well. In fact, if he wanted to stay at Rangers for the rest of his career then I would be worried.
“If you have anything about you as a sportsman then you want to reach the top. And I sincerely hope the Rangers gaffer has aspirations to manage a massive club in England.
“Of course the Old Firm are huge institutions and it takes a special person to perform there.”
Inevitable?
The three names that Boyd mentioned tell their own story, with all former SPFL title winners and all tempted to leave with their teams on top.
Gers’ 55th title winner came off a lot worse than Rodgers did, as the ex-Liverpool captain failed to complete his first year at Aston Villa having lost Beale as an assistant, while his one-time Anfield boss won the FA Cup at Leicester.
They are currently both out of a job either way, and now Postecoglou is the next man to conquer the Scottish Premiership and take on the challenge of the English Premier League.
Beale needs to worry about emulating the others in actually winning some trophies in Scotland before he contemplates any sort of grand departure, with the 42-year-old currently engaged in a major transfer rebuild at Ibrox.
He famously turned down a Premier League job when he was at charge at QPR last season, rejecting advances from Wolves before strongly re-affirming his commitment at Loftus Road.
The Rangers opportunity soon changed that and made him very unpopular in West London, but while he has spoken widely of the special draw the Light Blues hold for him it is surely impossible to keep hold of him forever.
Either way, he still needs to make sure that the Gers would want to do so, and while there were some positive signs in his first season it took him five attempts to get his first Old Firm victory so he very much needs to walk before any of Boyd’s ideas of him running to England come into play.
In other Rangers news, a current Ibrox ace “will leave” once the club completes an upcoming transfer.