Barry Ferguson comments on Michael Beale say it all as ex-Rangers boss set for dugout return
Ex-Rangers boss Michael Beale is in the frame for an EFL Championship vacancy.
Beale has been out of work since February 2024 after being sacked by Sunderland.
Prior to his time on Wearside, the 45-year-old was in charge of Rangers for just under 12 months, reigning from November 2022-October 2023.
Jack Butland even confessed at the time that the club needed to sack Beale, who had previously been with QPR.
Derek Ferguson also blasted Beale in a podcast interview, while Beale’s Sunderland ‘burner account’ controversy also caused a stir.
Michael Beale in frame for Oxford United job
As per a report from journalist Alan Nixon via his Patreon, Beale is in the running to become Oxford United’s new manager after they sacked Gary Rowett on Tuesday.
It’s understood that he has support within Oxford, who are currently sitting 22nd in the Championship, two points adrift of safety.
Beale has managed at Championship level before, having had a brief stint in charge of QPR before returning to English football’s second tier in December 2023 with Sunderland.
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Oxford may want to look away from Barry Ferguson’s comments on Beale’s Rangers spell
Another former Rangers manager that is out of work is Barry Ferguson, who left the club in May this year after serving as interim boss.
However, he didn’t take kindly to what Beale said about his time with Rangers in a podcast interview last year, in which he stated that “snakes” wanted to see him fail.
Ferguson responded by blasting Beale for his Rangers comments, and they paint a picture that may well serve to put Oxford off from hiring him.
“Let’s get one thing perfectly straight, Beale was entirely responsible for the decisions he made during his time in charge,” Ferguson said in November 2024.
“For him to suggest that people around the club wanted him to fail is simply not the case.
“I have no idea what he was hoping to achieve by coming away with that kind of stuff as it makes him sound silly.
“He had his shot and, let’s be honest, it wasn’t a good time for anyone. He should simply move on and accept that it didn’t work out for him.
- Michael Beale ended his Rangers career with a 72 per cent win rate
- He won 31, drew four and lost eight games during his time in charge at Ibrox
- Oxford are in their second season back at Championship level, but have won just four games this season
“Remember, this is a guy who was prepared to be seen sitting in the directors box when Gio van Bronckhorst was under pressure and fighting to stay in control.
“So maybe he’s not best placed to start talking about the morals of anyone else. It didn’t sit well at the time and it reflected badly on him when, a few days later, he ended up taking Gio’s job. But that’s for Beale’s conscience.”
Plenty of water has passed under the bridge since Beale left Ibrox, but his reign will not be forgotten easily by those still around.
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