‘Remarkable’ Michael Beale claim made as Rangers make sack decision at Ibrox
John Bennett’s decision not to sack Michael Beale at Rangers is “remarkable” and giving him more time in the dugout is “only delaying the inevitable”, according to Gary Keown.
Writing in the print edition of the Scottish Mail (10 September, pg 101), Keown suggests Rangers’ chances of winning the title this season “may well be over the horizon” unless Beale departs soon.
The Gers have had a tough few weeks, with the Old Firm defeat and Champions League failure adding pressure to Beale, meaning Bennett “badly needs to clear out the dugout.”
Keown said: “The current boss has to leave first for anyone to take the job on. And it’s remarkable nothing has happened since Beale and his players were jeered off the field so violently after surrendering to a second-string Celtic last weekend.
“Giving Beale more time is only delaying the inevitable. By the time he goes, the league may be well over the horizon. The bloke was an unfathomable appointment in the first place.
“[Bennett] badly needs to clear out the dugout too, though. Before this season ends up being another write-off to add to all the others he’s been witness to from the director’s box.”
Damning
Keown does not hold back in his view on Beale’s position at Ibrox and is clearly against Bennett’s decision to keep him on for now.
Beale will always be under pressure to perform as Rangers manager, but the two significant defeats in the UCL and the Old Firm were the two biggest tests of the season, both of which the former QPR man failed.
The board’s logic to keep Beale is understandable. They invested heavily into the squad for this season and were very active in the market for new recruits after a mass exodus of important first-team stars, including Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent.
Keown’s shock that Beale wasn’t sacked immediately after the Old Firm defeat is perhaps slightly reactionary. The season is still very young, and a key reason why the Gers have not had better results is the struggles of the new signings.
While Danilo, Sam Lammers and Cyriel Dessers have all scored for their new side, the lack of chemistry and clinical finishing has hindered the Gers. While it is Beale’s responsibility to change this, it can take a significant amount of time to bed one player, let alone the nine new faces.
However, the clock is quickly ticking for Beale. While Keown is perhaps being slightly harsh, this sentiment could soon be universal in the terraces of Ibrox if fortunes aren’t switched soon.
In other Rangers news, a BBC pundit has shared his “unbearable” verdict on the Gers’ Michael Beale sack decision.