Neil Banfield has blamed changes at executive level for Micky Beale’s Ibrox reign ending in failure after just 10 months.
The chubby former Arsenal youth coach cut a comical figure on the bench alongside Beale as the Tribute Act crashed to defeat in every significant match that they played.
Banfield’s only significant contribution at Ibrox was to make baffling comments about Ange Postecoglou after Celtic won the League Cup in February at Hampden.
A few weeks later, discussing the Celtic manager, Beale’s mate said:
I have got to say he has been first-class. But he said one or two things that I have remembered and I will remember. For what he has achieved at Celtic, we say well done. The use of the market has been excellent and I like the way they play. But he said one or two things that make you want to say, ‘Okay, right, we’re coming’.
And that’s okay, that is what it’s all about. They’ll want to come at us. That’s what top-level managers are all about. That’s the world we live in.
There’s respect there, no doubt. He is a good football guy and he works for Celtic but he has said things that leave a little taste in the mouth. I’ll keep that to myself but he made a quote after the final and it landed on me. And you think, ‘Yeah, okay I’ll take that.’ Next time we’ll turn that round.
Next time round Banfield watched Celtic win 3-2 in the SPFL before a second Hampden defeat in the Scottish Cup semi-final to put the hoops on the brink of a treble.
Reflecting on how him and Beale were robbed of glory by factors outwith their control Banfield told the Christie Scanlon podcast:
In the first season it went really really well and with Michael the club was changing and we brought a lot of new players into the club.
The chairman changed, the CEO changed, new management for each group, and when you get that influx of change within a club very rarely does it run smoothly.
Even looking at Chelsea now, they will come good because of the quality they have got in the side and the work the manager is doing with them.
We always felt that as a group this group of players would be successful and narrow the gap.
Let’s not forget Celtic have won three trebles so they are a good side, it was always going to take a while to bridge that gap and overtake them and sustain success. Unfortunately for circumstances it wasn’t to be.
Celtic have won five trebles over the last seven years but facts and accuracy was never something that Beale and his management team were strong on.
Incredibly Sunderland looked at Beale’s managerial record and put him in charge at the their club before Christmas. Banfield hasn’t been included in the coaching team giving him time back in London to watch Spurs and study a successful football manager.
Whoever this guy is,
he must be Bealin’ that he’s not included
in the Sunderland coaching staff?
Must be a really sore one to take though – if Mickey doesn’t rate you…?! 🙂
‘We lost ar ‘rivvim ‘ , ‘atz wot cozzed it, lack of ‘rivvim ! ‘ Nuffink to do wiv me ,but when the ‘rivvim’ goes ….the Rangers boad ,dun me up like a kippa ,noatameen? Gawden Bennett !
I just wish that that guy and his Bealing boss were still at Liebrox !
Billy Bealeshitter was a buffoon, every inch the equal of poor Pedro, but this clown makes him look and sound like Guardiola or Ancelotti. A weapons-grade tool.
3 bumps on a log !! it’s a wonder he didn’t blame it on his glass’s !!! lol
Usual delusional waffle from The Rangers!
Beale and crew were never good or big enough for the job at Ibrox. Come to that neither was Steven Gerard, one title in three seasons not good enough, that was more down to Celtic’s implosion than their tactical nuance!
Now Sunderland are witnessing Beale & co’s inabilities!