Michael Beale faces ‘huge fan backlash’ as he lines up next job after Rangers sack
Michael Beale wants to return to QPR after his Rangers departure but could face “huge fan backlash” from the London club, according to Alan Nixon.
Taking to Patreon (15 October), the Sun journalist claimed Beale wanted a move back to England, but the nature of his switch from London to Glasgow left QPR fans angered, which could impair his chances of returning.
Rangers have since appointed Philippe Clement in the role after the Englishman’s dismissal but Beale remains a realistic choice for QPR.
Starting again
Beale left QPR with a strong reputation after getting the underfunded Hoops into promotion contention, but the call to Ibrox proved too good to turn down and he departed mid-season.
A move to Premier League Wolves was declined by Beale, which prompted him to declare to QPR’s website in October 2022: “Integrity is a real big thing for me and loyalty.” His subsequent move to Rangers a month later understandably sat poorly with the Loftus Road faithful.
While Beale may be regretting his move to Ibrox, he is making the most of a bad situation. As reported by The Sun (14 October), Beale has chosen to visit Brazil, America and Japan to “reflect” and “learn” about the game ahead of his next move.
He may not be welcomed back in West London, however. That being said, the Hoops have struggled since Gareth Ainsworth’s appointment. Relegation to the English third division has felt a genuine possibility for the last six months, but Beale had them nearing a return to the top flight.
Should Beale address the fans and make amends, perhaps he could be cautiously welcomed back, but Ainsworth would have to be sacked beforehand. Rangers fans will wish he had taken the time to learn more about football before he joined the club, but he seems eager to start again and make his next appointment a successful one.
In other Rangers news, a pundit has named a new “favourite” in the Gers’ manager hunt, but it’s a “complicated” appointment.