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Rangers: Ally McCoist well off the mark after tone-deaf verdict on Michael Beale sack decision
Ally McCoist’s Michael Beale sack verdict on talkSPORT was tone-deaf after he downplayed the pressure on the Rangers boss.
Speaking on talkSPORT (20 September), McCoist said: “Michael Beale, I wouldn’t imagine, is under any massive degree of pressure right now. I still think he has a bit of time, I definitely think that.”
McCoist must be exclusively listening to the most patient of Rangers supporters, as the pundit’s suggestion that Beale is not under heavy pressure in Glasgow feels quite out of touch.
The Rangers job is one of the highest-pressure positions available in world football. Results are needed to achieve their one true aim: beat Celtic.
This has not been done nearly as often as the hierarchy would like, with just one league title in 12 seasons in Scotland, but Beale’s poor start in the league has already made this aim look unachievable.
Falling short against the Hoops, as well as Kilmarnock on the opening day of the season, has left the Gers four points adrift of Brendan Rodgers’ side.
While Celtic’s unbeaten start to the campaign is naturally very difficult to contend with, this is the remit of any manager in the Ibrox dugout and failure to do so, especially this early in the season, will always lead to questions being asked.
In Europe, Beale has also failed. Rangers are never expected to go particularly deep in UEFA’s top competition, but the financial benefits of getting to the group stages massively outweigh deep progression in the Europa League.
According to the Daily Record (6 April), the Gers secured a £18.1million cash boost for reaching the Europa League final two seasons ago – a significant sum of money for any Scottish side. However, Beale will have to replicate Giovanni Van Bronckhorst’s success if he wants to claim this prize money again, something very few would back him to do.
More frustratingly, the Mirror reported (6 September) that Champions League group stage clubs each receive a base figure of £13.48million, with each win in before the knockouts adding £2.4million to this kitty.
Rangers could have made a similar amount of money from just qualifying for the Champions League this season as they would if they reach the final, so financially Beale has not pleased the board.
Outside of the book balancing, the Ibrox faithful have voiced their anger about the state of their club. Boost rang around the home ground after the 1-0 defeat to Celtic, while many fans and pundits have all spoken out against Beale, warning him that only a quick turnaround will save him in their eyes.
How McCoist missed the mark so significantly is astonishing, but only time will tell if the former Rangers hero will be proved correct.
In other Rangers news, Chris Jack claims the Gers are eyeing a huge profit on a summer signing.