QPR ‘close’ to appointing Aston Villa assistant Michael Beale as new manager

QPR are closing in on appointing Aston Villa assistant manager Michael Beale as their new head coach.

That’s according to the Telegraph who claim that Beale is ‘very keen’ to become a number one and it’s something that Villa have been aware of sine Steven Gerrard brought him to Villa Park.

It was noted last week that QPR had made an official approach for Beale but things have accelerated over the last few days and it now looks like a matter of when rather than if.

The Hoops have been on the lookout for a new manager since the close of the season when they didn’t take up the option of extending former boss Mark Warburton’s contract.

Beale would be a gamble for the west London side in the sense that he has never been number one at a senior side in his career, however, the way he is spoken about by his peers tells you that it was only a matter of time.

Former Rangers forward Kyle Lafferty called him the ‘brains behind it all’ during his time in Scotland whilst Andy Halliday, Greg Docherty and Peter Lovenkrands all gave him glowing references.

There’s no denying his departure - if and when it occurs - will be a hammer blow for Gerrard ahead of a vitally important pre-season at Villa Park.

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