Former Rangers coach Michael Beale has revealed all on his decision to stay at Queens Park Rangers after he turned down an offer to become Wolves' new boss on Thursday.
Beale, who moved to the Light Blues as part of Steven Gerrard 's coaching team back in 2018, saw his profile rise at Ibrox by bringing the Scottish Premiership title to Govan under the Liverpudlian's guidance. A move to Aston Villa alongside Gerrard occurred last November, but with fans of the Birmingham-based side becoming restless with the former England international, Beale took a different route by joining QPR in the summer.
Seeing his side go top of the league after 15 games, his stock is now higher than ever in west London - given that the R's failed to make the play-offs last season, they are a club in the ascendency with four wins from their last five. And, after Premier League Wolves unsuccessfully came knocking this week in a bid to replace Bruno Lage, he rejected the chance - citing 'loyalty and integrity' as his reasons for remaining in the capital city.
"There's been a lot in the background, it's been a difficult few days for me, if I'm honest," Beale told the club's official website. "I was really focused on here and everything came out the blue - these things do snowball. Everyone has an opinion on you and what decision you're going to make and almost try to preempt it.
"I really did try to be honest in all of the interviews I've done in all of the media, and the most important thing was keeping the players focused on the job in hand which was last nights performance. I think when I joined the club in the summer I found and ownership that was really honest with me about what they wanted, and they were giving me my first opportunity to be a manager.
"I took that task on with a lot of enthusiasm and excitement. They enabled me to build a management team and to recruit the players that I wanted to work with; sometimes parents, wives, agents, to convince them that QPR was the right place to come, so it has all come a bit too soon. It is the aim for me to go and work in the Premier League like it is for all of our players, and the idea is to go ourselves as a group.
"At times if we are doing well there will be speculation and temptation; one thing for sure is that Wolves are a fantastic football club, a historic football club, it was a privilege to be asked to go and speak to them. But I didn't think it was the right moment, as I entered into an agreement here. Integrity and loyalty are big things for me, you don't give it to receive it back.
"I think if they are the values you live by, then when there are times you are put in a position, you have to stand by them. I don't feel we are anywhere near where I want QPR to be - I'm enjoying working with them, we have a lot to do and I'm excited by it. I know there will be some bumps in the road, but I've been all in here and I've asked other people to be all in, so I can't be the first person to run away from the ship."
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