Sources: Rangers board in manager twist amid Michael Beale backlash
Rangers chiefs are increasingly concerned about a growing backlash among supporters about appointing frontrunner Michael Beale as the new manager, sources have told Football Insider.
The QPR boss is the number one choice of Ibrox director of football Ross Wilson, who is leading the hunt to replace the sacked Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
Wilson and managing director Stewart Robertson have been in London this week to hold talks with prospective candidates, with QPR now braced for an official approach for Beale.
The Londoner, 42, remains in pole position to land the job and has made no attempt to hide his attachment to Rangers after three years at the club as first-team coach.
But Ibrox directors are 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 now dropped to seventh in the table at the mid-season break.
There is growing pressure on Wilson to get the appointment right following a series of less than successful signings in recent years.
The recruitment record of the department he oversees does not compare well with that of his predecessor Mark Allen.
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.
It is believed that Rangers are still speaking to other candidates as they look to secure a replacement by the end of this week.
Speculation about Beale potentially returning to Ibrox intensified when he was spotted at the stadium on 29 October for the 4-1 Scottish Premiership win over Aberdeen.
The 42-year-old 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.
QPR director of football Les Ferdinand has cleared the way for Rangers to hold talks with Beale and has insisted the club will not stand in his way if he wants to leave.
Beale has already rejected the Wolves job last month.
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