Sources: Rangers to trigger release clause after Michael Beale twist
Rangers are set to trigger Michael Beale’s QPR release clause as they close in on appointing him as their new manager, sources have told Football Insider.
The Glasgow giants are finalising a deal with the 42-year-old after making an official approach to the Championship club on Saturday.
Rangers are poised to activate the seven-figure release clause inserted in the QPR deal Beale signed when he became their manager in June.
It is one of the final hurdles to Rangers reaching a full agreement with the Londoner.
Ibrox chiefs have made up their minds to appoint Beale as the replacement to the sacked Giovanni van Bronckhorst after being convinced by director of football Ross Wilson.
The 42-year-old has made no attempt to hide his attachment to Rangers after three years at the club as first-team coach.
Ibrox directors have been wary of growing criticism about Beale from fans on social media, centring on his lack of management experience and QPR’s wretched run of results going into the international break.
The west Londoners made a mockery of their small budget to lead the Championship after 16 matches but they have dropped to seventh in the table at the mid-season break.
But Beale is now set to be appointed within the next few days.
Football Insider broke the news on 12 November that Beale was Rangers’ favoured candidate to replace Van Bronckhorst.
He is good friends with Wilson and the pair struck up an excellent relationship during the Londoner’s three years as first-team coach at Rangers.
Beale followed Steven Gerrard to Aston Villa in November of last year but then severed ties with his former Rangers and Liverpool colleague to take on the QPR job – his first in management – during the summer.
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