Michael Beale has admitted he was surprised when he got the call to become Rangers manager in November 2022 as he provided insight into why it all went sour before his exit.

Beale, 43, departed Ibrox under a cloud last October after leaving Rangers trailing Celtic by seven points in the Scottish Premiership title race. He lasted just 10 months in the role - becoming one the shortest serving permanent managers in the club's history. 

The Londoner had begun his tenure well though, earning victory in 13 of this first 14 matches, with the other a draw against Ange Postecoglou's Celtic. And many had hoped that was the beginning of stark improvement. 

However, poor recruitment plus an extensive overhaul behind the scenes all left Beale staring at an untenable position the next season - which led to him being sacked following a 3-1 home loss to Aberdeen only two months into the league campaign.

Discussing his Rangers exit with the Sky Sports Soccer Special panel, he recalled: "Yeah, listen I've got so much admiration for Rangers, and I live in that part of the world as well. It's a fantastic football club. 

"I went back in last season and it was a shock really to be asked to go because I felt Gio Van Bronckhorst done a fantastic job. But when you are asked to go back to Rangers, a club that meant a lot to me, the relationships, and we started ever so well, Ange Postecoglou's Celtic were already nine points ahead and they were going great guns. 

"Going into this season it's fair to say we probably disrupted the group too much too soon, and there was a lot of turnover of players and on the outside. 

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"I think Phil Clement has again done really well. The potential of that group is to go on and win that league. It's already won the League Cup and I always thought that would come through. 

"They have got some fantastic players there and you have seen how much it's elevated Jack Butland by going back and being a regular number one as well." 

Beale was then asked if he thinks Rangers will go on and win the Scottish Premiership title come May. 

"I hope so," he replied. "I will be kicking every ball and supporting them as you would. I think the injuries to both teams has been key this season at times. Todd Cantwell and Tom Lawrence being fit for Rangers will be huge. 

"I think the player of the season in Scotland outside of Jack Butland was probably Abdallah Sima who's been missing, so if Abdallah can come back now and provide some goals and power in the final third, I would expect Rangers to go on and win the league. 

"But it will come down to the Old Firm's and obviously there's a big one coming up in just over a week's time."