THE manager’s job at Ibrox has become football’s poisoned chalice.
Michael Beale, who ill-advisably termed Ange Postecoglou “lucky” last season, was unceremoniously sacked after the 3-1 home loss to Aberdeen at the weekend, as CQN reported last night.
The Englishman became the second Govan gaffer to be dismissed inside 12 months as he followed Giovanni van Bronckhorst through the revolving door.
PILING ON THE PRESSURE…Kyogo Furuhashi volleys in Celtic’s spectacular winner at Ibrox last month.
Beale came in for the dumped Dutchman in November last year and, after being let loose in a squad revamp in the summer, has now been handed his P45 after the team’s third Premiership defeat in only seven outings.
The victory for Barry Robson’s Dons, their first in that part of Glasgow in four and a half years, followed a 1-0 success for Brendan Rodgers’ champions at the same venue at the start of last month and the identical scoreline in a loss against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park in the league opener in August.
Under whichever guise they choose to adopt, history shows the Ibrox outfit have had 18 managers. Five of those have come in the last eight years and booting two out of the exit in such a short space of time hardly underlines stability within the club.
Naturally, it’s not a good look for any football organisation and won’t act as an inducement for a high-quality replacement.
Beale appeared in a rush to rid the squad of the fingerprints of former dug-out inhabitants and it was a case of good riddance to the likes of Ryan Kent, Alfredo Morelos, Antonio Colak and Fashion Sakala to make way for a posse of new faces, but the jigsaw has failed to click.
THE SOUND OF SILENCE…Ibrox is struck dumb as joyous Celtic players celebrate Kyogo Furuhashi’s points-clincher on September 3.
Already some are being singled out by the Govan boo boys for special treatment and striker Cyriel Dessers, signed from relegated Cremonese for £4.5million, midfielder Jose Cifuentes and forward Sam Lammers have been on the receiving end of the ire and frustration of the agitated onlookers from the stands that emptied rapidly long before the final whistle on Saturday.
Once the Dons had gone in at half-time with a 1-0 advantage, there must have been a feeling of foreboding around Govan. The team had failed to win any of the last five league matches in which they had conceded the opening goal.
The overwhelming and embarrassing 7-3 knock-out by PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League play-off ended any remote dreams of making an impact in the elite competition and the Govan side now face a Europa League match against Aris Limassol in Cyprus on Thursday.
THAT SINKING FEELING…goalkeeper Jack Butland is left helpless as Liel Abada congratulates Kyogo Furuhashi after the Japanese striker’s whiplash winner at Ibrox.
Northern Ireland international veteran Steven Davis has been put in interim charge and he will be in position on Sunday for the hazardous trip to Paisley to face second-placed St Mirren.
If Rodgers’ men beat Kilmarnock at Parkhead 24 hours earlier, they will go 10 points clear of their city rivals.
A failure by the Govan team against Stephen Robinson’s side will leave the managerless, rudderless team well adrift after only eight Premiership matches played.
So, who will be next to accept football’s version of Mission Impossible?
Watch this space!
