John Eustace issues strong verdict on Birmingham City exit to replace Michael Beale at Rangers
John Eustace is “definitely not” interested in taking over from Michael Beale at Rangers and is “proud and honoured” to be at Birmingham City.
The St. Andrew’s boss responded on Thursday (14 September) to reports linking him to the Light Blues by reaffirming his commitment to the English Championship side while praising the under-fire Gers manager, stating, as per STV, that the Glasgow giants are “not a job that interests me at all”.
Eustace emerged as the first named candidate to come in at Ibrox if Beale was let go after defeat to Celtic before the international break in a report from the Daily Mail on 6 September.
Eustace said: “I love my job here at Birmingham City, I’ve been here for 14 months now, I signed a three-year-contract to help rebuild this football club and I want to stay as long as I can.
“I think in the 14-months there has been very good progress and It’s important we keep building and I want to be here as long as the club want me.”
He then responded directly to Ibrox links, saying: “Definitely not, Rangers have got a fantastic manager already and that’s not a job that interests me at all.
“I am very proud and honoured to be Birmingham City manager and I want to help grow this football club for as long as I can.”
Shot down
It couldn’t be much more unequivocal from Eustace that he has no intention of giving up his project in England to head north of the border.
Beale himself has made grand statements such as this one carry a seed of doubt after he departed QPR for Ibrox last year despite making a show of his commitment in the face of an offer from Wolves.
But it would be a major surprise to see a repeat of that development this time around, if the current Rangers boss is removed at all.
Everything from this point is going to depend on the results he can produce with his team coming out of the international break, and a run of wins should take the pressure off.
However, more dropped points in the SPFL or a further embarrassment in Europe and he is sure to be struggling to keep hold of his job for long.
It is perhaps little surprise that John Bennett wants to avoid a change having backed an extensive rebuild this summer with Beale at the centre of it.
But some fans have seen enough already so if results, if not performances, don’t pick up immediately the noise around him might prove too much.
In other Rangers news, a recent signing’s career at Ibrox might be over already after developments this week says Chris Jack.