MICHAEL BEALE is reportedly the favourite to become the next Rangers manager.

It's claimed Beale is the front-runner to replace Giovanni van Bronckhorst after he was sacked on Monday.

Early odds priced Beale as an odds-on favourite to be named next Rangers manager.

And reports have suggested Beale is keen on a return with members of the Rangers board backing a move for the QPR manager.

However, The Scottish Sun claim Beale will have to meet one major condition if he's to become Rangers manager.

And that is to appoint a Scottish assistant as his right-hand man at Ibrox.

A report from the newspaper claims any approach to land Beale from QPR would come alongside a condition for a Scotsman to be his No2.

Van Bronckhorst did not have to fulfil that criteria as he brought his own staff to Ibrox with Dave Vos and Roy Makaay joining his backroom team.

But the condition presents a possible opportunity for Beale to reunite with Gary McAllister who he worked alongside under Steven Gerrard - or a return to Rangers for a former player such as Kevin Thomson.

QPR director of football tonight confirmed he would not stand in Beale's way if he was approached and wanted to return to Glasgow.

But it's claimed any move for Beale would come at a £1.5million price tage to free him from his QPR contract and take up the top job at Ibrox.

Beale is well-liked and highly-thought of at Ibrox and has remained a fan favourite despite his exit alongside Gerrard to move to Villa.

The coach then went solo in management at QPR where he quickly impressed and was targeted for a move to Premier League side Wolves.

However, he turned down the opportunity as he remained loyal to QPR.

Discussing speculation linking Beale with a move back to Glasgow to Rangers, QPR chief Ferdinand told the Daily Record: “I haven’t spoken to Michael or Rangers about this.

"But I expected Michael’s name would be mentioned for the role at Rangers because he did such a good job while he was up there working with Steven Gerrard.

"I don't want to have to fight to keep anyone at QPR. I want people who want to be here. That’s the only way we can move forward.

“If they want to be somewhere else, that’s what they’re going to do.

"We’d have to have a conversation. It’s not that I’d be happy to have it but I only want people at the football club who want to be here.”

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