Michael Beale sack questions could arise at Rangers with £25m windfall loss
Stephen McGowan believes that failure to reach the Champions League group stage, a potential £25m loss, could be “painful” for the Rangers directors, and further increase the pressure on Michael Beale.
The Scottish Daily Mail journalist, writing in his column piece (12 August, page 2), wrote that Champions League qualification failure could raise questions about the signings Rangers have made and that Beale’s future could become a “topic of open discussion”.
The Gers have completed a whopping nine transfers already this summer and face a crucial second-leg tie against Servette on Tuesday (15 August), currently 2-1 ahead in the tie after last week’s narrow win at Ibrox.
But McGowan also admits that failure to qualify could prove a blessing in disguise in regard to their Scottish Premiership title ambitions, but painful for the club directors.
He said: “Failure to reach the group stage would raise questions of the new signings.
“A perceived lack of width in the team could become an issue. The manager’s long-term future would become a hot topic of discussion.
“The loss of £25m in Champions League revenue would be painful for directors. For Beale, the loss of Champions League football could prove a blessing in disguise.
“If he can’t beat Celtic in the first Old Firm game of the season on September 1, Europe will be the least of his worries.”
Pressure is on for Beale
McGowan is absolutely right in suggesting the pressure is intensifying for Beale and Rangers right now and given the plethora of new additions at Ibrox, it’s definitely the season for the Gers to deliver their first league trophy since Gerrard’s tenure.
Nine signings is incredible and there could well be two or three more in at Ibrox before the transfer window closes but none of that will mean anything if Rangers aren’t matching Celtic’s levels early on.
Last weekend’s defeat to Kilmarnock was a huge and considerable disappointment as well as a surprise, a defeat which will have increased the concerns around the fanbase about Beale’s credentials and ability to lead Rangers to the title.
The former QPR manager is certainly a talented manager and coach but when you’re up against a coach as experienced at this level as Brendan Rodgers, Beale’s job has been made all the more difficult.
While a Champions League failure may prove a blessing in disguise as McGowan points out, the Rangers fans will love a European journey no matter what it may bring, but will that journey be at the detriment of their domestic ambitions? Certainly.
And a £25m loss would indeed be painful considering the amount of money the Rangers board has handed Beale to strengthen his squad.
In other Rangers news, Beale shared a fresh twist on a Rangers player who has looked destined to leave Ibrox all summer.