Steven Gerrard is reportedly planning to bring coaching duo Gary McAllister and Michael Beale with him to Aston Villa.
The Rangers manager is set to speak with Villa in the next few hours about replacing Dean Smith in B6 after arriving in London earlier today.
Villa has named Gerrard as their prime candidate and CEO Christian Purslow wants the former England and Liverpool captain in place at Bodymoor Heath early next week.
The telegraph reports that McAllister – who previously coached at Villa under Gerard Houllier – and Beale are expected to follow Gerrard to Villa Park.
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It is also suggested that set-piece specialist Tom Culshaw and performance chief Jordan Milsom could leave Rangers to join Gerrard’s behind-the-scenes team at Villa.
The potential exit of first-team coach Beale frustrates Rangers fans, with some suggesting the Londoner would be Gerrard’s ideal replacement at Ibrox.
Beale is a key part of Gerrard’s coaching staff and the Rangers manager has spoken enthusiastically about his assistant in the past.
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Speaking on Robbie Fowler’s podcast on Beale, Gérard said: “What I’ll never do is try to do someone else’s job when they’re better at it than me.
“For example, I had worked on (identifying) a coaching team behind the scenes when I was manager of the U18 and U19 teams in Liverpool. People wouldn’t believe how much I was watching for people to take with me when the opportunity finally presented itself.
“I haven’t had the luxury of retiring early from the game or not being a player, in terms of having that pitch time to really become a coach over the past 20 years like a Brendan Rodgers, a Mourinho or a Michael Beale.
“It would take me 15/20 years to become as good as Michael Beale as a coach on the field, delivering sessions daily, so I let Mick be Mick Beale because he’s the expert.”
And Rangers fans aren’t particularly happy with Gerrard’s plan to bring Beale to Second City.
One supporter said: “It’s the fact that if Gerrard leaves he will also go with all the backroom staff, which I don’t like and also the timing. I would take Michael Beale without hesitate to succeed Gerrard if he goes. “
Another Gers fan added: “Steven Gerrard is just a name that draws players to the club, Michael Beale is the one I will be sad to see go.”
A third said: “Michael Beale is a bigger loss than Gerrard.”
“I would be more drained if Michael Beale left too. I would like to see him as Gerrard’s successor,” admitted a fourth.
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