The revolving door at Ibrox continues to remain in motion as the Rangers will now be on the lookout for their fourth manager in the space of less than two years. It started when Steven Gerrard left in order to join Aston Villa in November 2021. He was replaced by Giovanni van Bronckhorst, who was shown the exit door the same month the following year. Now, Michael Beale is the latest one to depart. What does it all mean for Celtic?
Beale had come in with a lot of expectations and was viewed as the mastermind behind the Rangers’ Premiership triumph in the 2020/21 campaign. He was part of Gerrard’s coaching staff then.
Beale has failed to deliver as the manager of the Rangers though and did not even last a year in the Ibrox hot seat. The 3-1 defeat to Aberdeen at the weekend left them seven points behind Celtic in the league.
Following the result, the Rangers officially announced that they had parted ways with Beale. Steven Davis will lead the interim management team.
Celtic fans react as Rangers announce Beale sack
Of course, considering some of Beale’s comments in the past, Celtic fans were always expected to have their say on his departure. They said on Twitter:
"I definitely think we would have won the league. When we left, we were still four points in front. There is no way they (Celtic) would have come past us."
— John McGinley (@jhnmcgnly) October 1, 2023
Michael Beale on Celtic's 2021/22 title win, two weeks before becoming manager of Rangers.
Micheal Beale loves facts. He inherited the gap he didn't create it last season. Judge him on his team his players. He was on course to finish 38 points behind Celtic thats a fact.
— John McConnell (@JohnMcC28171320) October 1, 2023
It will be interesting to see who the next manager for the Rangers will be. At this point in time, it will be difficult for anybody who comes in to overturn a seven-point deficit to Celtic.
The club have been linked with names like Graham Potter and Kevin Muscat. It is unlikely that the former would want to come to Ibrox considering the position the club finds themselves in right now. The latter seems like a more realistic target, especially having played for the Rangers in the past.
Celtic only need to focus on themselves. Seven games into the league season, they are already firmly in the driver’s seat.