Michael Beale under more sack pressure than ever after new Rangers manager decision
Michael Beale is now under more pressure than ever to change the fortunes at Rangers amid links with a new manager at Ibrox.
TeamTalk reported (26 September) that the Gers are “keeping a close watch” on AZ Alkmaar’s head coach Pascal Jansen after his excellent work with the Dutch outfit. With a Europa Conference League semi-final last season and a perfect start to the league in the Eredivisie to boast, the Dutchman looks a better option than the Englishman.
With replacements being eyed up, Beale could soon face an Ibrox exit. One more slip-up could be all the Rangers hierarchy needs to put Beale’s 10-month tenure to an end.
Rangers have seemingly been looking for a replacement for a while. While plenty of clubs would keep a manager shortlist in case of a sacking, The Sun’s report (13 September) that the Gers had approached former Chelsea and Brighton manager Graham Potter to replace Beale suggested that the writing could soon be on the wall.
The pressure was there from day one of the season after Rangers’ surprise 1-0 opening-day defeat to Kilmarnock in the league, but subsequent losses in the Old Firm and the failure to qualify for the Champions League group stage added fuel to the fire of his looming dismissal.
The Ibrox faithful have made their voices loud and clear since Brendan Rodgers bested Beale at Ibrox, with the full-time echos of boos and jeers sending the Englishman a clear message. These boos continue to follow him even in victory, with his 1-0 victory over Motherwell not enough to calm the discontent from the fanbase.
Since the crucial Celtic defeat, Beale went on to win all the next three fixtures, keeping a clean sheet in all. The Europa League success over Real Betis was hard-fought and the Gers did well defensively to keep the swathes of Spanish attacks at bay. However, the performances on the pitch have become the main point of contention now.
Beale himself even admitted that the Motherwell performance was below standard, saying, as quoted by Football Scotland: “[It was a] horrible performance, didn’t enjoy the game. I don’t think the players enjoyed the game or anyone watching it supporting us enjoyed the game.”
Beale said what all Rangers fans were thinking, except he is the one man in the position to change it. Any defeat in the next few fixtures could spell the end for the manager, and the hierarchy’s actions suggest they could have a replacement waiting in the wings.
In other Rangers news, former Gers boss Steven Gerrard is reportedly hoping to bring an old Ibrox familiar to Saudi Arabia.