Daunting in-tray awaits if Beale decides to take plunge
MICHAEL BEALE is on record as saying that ‘no one turns down Glasgow Rangers’ but that’s not to say that he — or anyone else for that matter — will agree to the move on a whim.
The size of the club and the obvious attraction of being manager do not disguise the fact that there are numerous issues on and off the field that have to be taken into account before signing on the dotted line.
A squad that reached the Europa League final six months ago is ageing and was badly misfiring in the final weeks of Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s tenure.
There are legitimate questions over how much money would be available to address that, as well as a breakdown in trust between the boardroom and fans.
Here are the key issues that Beale, if he takes the job, will be wrestling with...
÷THE SCALE OF THE REBUILD
The contracts of Alfredo Morelos, Ryan Kent, Allan McGregor, Scott Arfield, Steven Davis, Ryan Jack and Filip Helander all expire in the summer, together with that of young goalkeeper Kieran Wright. The loan deals for James Sands and Malik Tillman also come to an end.
While the new man could reduce that number by getting round the table with certain individuals. The likes of McGregor, 40, and Davis, 37, will retire, and there’s little sense in offering Arfield, 34, fresh terms. By any measure, the turnover in players will be huge. The side which starts next season will bear little resemblance to the current one.
In one sense, that’s a big opportunity for a manager to quickly put their own stamp on the team, although there would be a pressing need to be prolific in the transfer market.
÷ KEY MEN QUANDARIES
No two players contributed more — or should that be less? — to Van Bronckhorst’s demise than Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos.
One of the star players under Steven Gerrard, the English winger has seemed bereft of confidence this season.
In his first four years in light blue, Kent contributed 30 goals and 32 assists. In 22 games this term, he’s scored one and set up five. He’s rapidly gone backwards.
A player who attracted serious offers from Leeds two years ago is now out of contract next summer. Do you accept a parting of the ways is best for all parties — or offer him a new deal?
Ditto Morelos. A real asset under Gerrard has now become a liability. There’s a highly effective footballer in there somewhere but it’s a very tall order to get him physically and mentally right again.
÷ SHOW ME THE MONEY
Despite taking the team to the Europa League final and selling Nathan Patterson, Joe Aribo and Calvin Bassey for an initial £38million combined, Van Bronckhorst couldn’t add to his squad in the week that followed the securing of a return to the Champions League.
Given the club’s financials for 2021-22 saw them return a profit of £5.9m on a turnover of £86.8m, the fact the Dutchman was not able to spend money on top of his initial £11m splurge was somewhat perplexing.
But there are other factors at play. Rangers are on UEFA’s Financial Fair Play watch list, meaning they can no longer spend money like a sailor on shore leave.
No sooner has £8m been spent to settle a case with Mike Ashley than Elite Sportswear are suing them for £9.5m.
There will be limits to what can be spent and it’s also hard to see where the next big sale from the squad is coming from.
÷WHO’S CALLING THE SHOTS?
Van Bronckhorst recently stated that every decision on incoming players was taken in conjunction with sporting director Ross Wilson.
The Dutchman also went on record to say that he’d never been overruled on a player. We can only take him at his word.
What’s notable, though, is that, over the two latest transfer windows, Rangers didn’t sign a single player from the Netherlands, nor were they linked with any. Surely this would have been a market that Van Bronckhorst would have sought to dip into?
Rangers’ two-tier managerial structure is by no means unusual and there are plus-points to it. But, when things go awry, it’s the manager’s neck that’s always on the block. Just ask Gio.
÷ WHAT’S THE EXPECTATION?
Mark Warburton tells a story that, on his first day as Rangers manager, someone mentioned to him that if the Ibrox side were playing Barcelona the following day, they would maybe accept a draw. And that was when the club were in the Championship.
The expectation always has been — and always will be — enormous. Second place is nowhere in Scotland.
But what would the board’s measure of success be in the short and longer term? The team are currently nine points behind Celtic. Does he get a free pass this season provided the gap is closed? Would winning one of the cups earn him pass marks? And what’s the minimum requirement next year?
÷CELTIC STRENGTH
Football can change very quickly. Dick Advocaat grabbed Celtic’s crown at the first attempt in season 1998-99. Two years later, Martin O’Neill oversaw another spectacular power shift. Yet, there’s no question that the next Rangers manager is coming up against a highly formidable opponent on the other side of the city. Ange Postecoglou’s side have won 14 of their 15 league games this season. They’ve already recruited Yuki Kobayashi for January and will add more players as a part of an ‘aggressive’ recruitment strategy.
After losing their first title in a decade in 2021, Celtic are back to being a well-oiled, winning machine who may only get better. Good luck knocking them off-track.
÷ DISHARMONY
When Gerrard and Beale (below, left) arrived at Rangers in 2018, there was still a sense of unity at the club following regime change three years previously. This has long since dissipated.
The fanbase is angry at those in the boardroom for knowing the price of everything and the value of nothing.
They feel misled over the lack of investment in the side after Champions League football was secured. Poor communication is a common source of complaint.
Former chairman Dave King has aligned himself with fan group Club 1872 and seems to take monthly potshots at current incumbent Douglas Park.
King will vote against Park’s re-election as a director at the AGM on December 6.
This is no more than playing to the galleries, but such a move will only heighten the fractious atmosphere that’s currently engulfing the club.