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Michael Beale is in line to become just the 18th permanent manager in Rangers’ illustrious 150-year history but, as with every managerial appointment, there is a degree of trepidation as to whether he is the right man to lead a club of such magnitude.

As soon as Giovanni van Bronckhorst was relieved of his duties on Monday morning, attention quickly turned to his potential successor and Beale’s name was one that hastily emerged as an early front-runner.

It’s no surprise given he has never been shy in hiding his love for the club, his previous success as part of Steven Gerrard's backroom team as well as being a recent guest at Ibrox as Rangers defeated Aberdeen earlier this month.

As much as he is highly regarded as a coach, there are undoubtedly question marks over his ability to transition to a manager. He is a baby in managerial terms having just taken his first step in management as recently as June when he was named as QPR boss, ironically taking over from ex-Rangers manager Mark Warburton.

He had to build a squad capable of coping with the demands of the English Championship on a shoestring. Six players were signed, all of which were free transfers while he added four loan signings with 21 players heading out the door.

After guiding the R’s to the top of the table, it led Premier League side Wolves to approach him in October but he declined. At the time the 42-year-old said: "One thing's for sure is Wolves are a fantastic football club, they're a historic football club.

"It was a real privilege to be asked to go to speak to them but I didn't think it was the right moment because I entered into an agreement here.

"Integrity is a real big thing for me, and loyalty. You don't give it to receive it back but I think if they're the values you live by then at times when you're put in a position then you have to be strong by them."

Now, his reported decision to depart for Ibrox has, understandably, not gone down well with sections of the QPR support given his reasons for turning down the move to Molineux.

But, it simply highlights the stature and pull of a club like Glasgow Rangers if Beale does return north. With the greatest respect to Wolves, a well-supported club in their own right with a proud history, there aren’t many jobs in British football that compare to the one that Beale is about to take on.

The big question is whether the job is too big for someone who is a mere five months into his managerial career. There is no doubt it is a gamble from the Ibrox hierarchy who will be appointing someone based on his previous involvement with the club as an assistant coach.

He will be afforded a honeymoon period, just like van Bronckhorst was, due to his previous affiliation with the club but Beale will know, it doesn’t matter how popular you are with the fanbase, if you don’t deliver positive results then being liked counts for very little.

Rangers Review: (Image: NQ)

In an interview with the Rangers Review in the summer, Beale was quizzed on whether he would like to manage the Ibrox giants one day and he replied: “Nobody turns down Glasgow Rangers.”

He added: "As it stands just now I was a good assistant at Rangers. Where Rangers are now they can secure any manager they want. I’m just a novice manager and I have to do well here at QPR. Do I have a lot of friends at Rangers and am friendly with the Board? Yes, my links are strong. But, when Gio eventually decides to move on they will have a host of people after the job. The club has just played in the Europa League final. I think they will be looking at much bigger fish than Mick Beale.”

It may have been a humble response but it’s clear the Rangers board think very highly of Beale which may beg the question as to why he wasn’t approached to take over when Gerrard departed for Aston Villa.

Perhaps, it was felt he wasn’t ready at the time. Who's to say he’s ready after just five months as his own man? It looks like we're all about to find out.

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