Mick Beale admits he would find it tough to leave Queens Park Rangers for Wolves even if it remains his ‘dream’ to coach at Premier League level, speaking to West London Sport.
On Wednesday night, after thumping ten-man Cardiff City 3-0 in West London, QPR climbed to the summit of the Championship table.
Beale has only four months of management under his belt. But, since taking over at Loftus Road in June, the 42-year-old continues to prove why he was so highly-rated behind the scenes at Rangers, Aston Villa and Liverpool.
According to The Athletic, Beale is now the leading candidate to replace Bruno Lage at Molineux. Wolves have turned to a fluent Portuguese speaker (Beale previously worked in Brazil with Sao Paulo), after talking to the likes of Peter Bosz, Julen Lopetegui, Rob Edwards and Nuno Espirito Santo.
Beale has made no secret of his desire to take sole charge of a club at the very highest level. But turning his back a QPR side flying high in top spot would still tug at the heartstrings, with both man and club leaving quite the impression on each other.
Will Mick Beale leave QPR to become Wolves manager?
“I haven’t spoken to (QPR director of football) Les Ferdinand or anyone. So, as far as I’m aware, nothing has changed,” says Beale, who has a release clause in his QPR contract.
“If an offer comes in officially, you don’t have to take it. You have to weigh up everything. There are a lot of questions you need to get answers to.
“Yes (it would be difficult to leave). Football is about feelings and relationships. We’ve built strong relationships here.”
Wolves lost 2-1 at Crystal Palace on Tuesday; a result that saw them drop into the Premier League’s relegation zone. But would Beale swap a club at the top of the table for one fearing a relegation battle?
“I did come from the Premier League to work here. I do know that level. I’ve worked for some of the biggest clubs, so I do know the expectations of those places,” he adds. “It’s 100 per cent a dream of mine to manage in the Premier League. That’s not a secret.
“But it has to be the right opportunity, the right moment and the right club. And they’d have to give me a really clear understanding of where that club’s going.
“When I was with (Glasgow) Rangers I turned down seven or eight chances to be a manager. There are some things I look for.”
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