Queens Park Rangers

Queens Park Rangers

Championship

QPR identify Championship replacement for Rangers bound Beale, as expert sheds light on rapid rise

QPR manager Michael Beale

Queens Park Rangers are looking at Mark Robins as a potential replacement for Michael Beale as manager, TEAMtalk understands.

Beale looks likely to leave QPR for Glasgow Rangers, where he would be replacing Giovanni van Bronckhorst. He has led QPR to seventh place in the Championship after 21 matches of the 2022-23 season.

The 42-year-old only took charge of QPR earlier this year, following time as an assistant with Sao Paulo, Rangers and Aston Villa. He worked under Steven Gerrard at each of the last two roles.

Now, Rangers want to take Beale back to Glasgow, this time as their manager. Despite him recently rejecting the chance to take over at Wolves, he now appears to be on the verge of quitting QPR for a move north of the border.

It will leave QPR looking for a third manager of 2022 after Mark Warburton and then Beale. As has also been reported elsewhere, TEAMtalk understands that Mark Robins is on QPR’s radar.

In fact, the Loftus Road outfit have held talks with Robins’ people.

The 52-year-old has been in charge of Coventry City since 2017, which is his second spell with the club. During his current spell, Robins has led Coventry to promotions from League Two and League One, as well as lifting the EFL Trophy in 2016-17.

Coventry are currently 11th in the Championship, two points behind QPR but with two games in hand.

QPR would have to pay compensation to take him away, but that would be covered by the money they in turn are getting from Beale’s proposed move to Rangers.

Beale return to Rangers a sign of rapid rise

As for Beale, the return to Rangers represents the progress he has been making.

TEAMtalk’s insider Graeme Bailey said: “What a six months it has been for Michael Beale, from assistant at Aston Villa to Rangers manager, not sure anyone saw this coming.

“Queens Park Rangers battled really hard to keep him away from Wolves just a few weeks ago, but I am told that when they learnt of Rangers’ interest in him replacing Giovanni van Bronckhorst – they knew it would be almost impossible to stop him because of the relationship he has with Rangers.

“Beale really enjoyed his time in Glasgow, so he can move back and hit the ground running and that was also a big factor in him heading back to Glasgow – which is expected to be confirmed early in the week.”