Michael Beale concedes he's "lost a good ally" in the shape of Ross Wilson.
The Rangers manager admits he's disappointed to see the 39-year-old depart the Ibrox club for Nottingham Forest.
The sporting director last night moved to the Premier League club to replace Filippo Giraldi in a 'senior football role' at the City Ground.
The move brought an end to his four-year spell in Glasgow with the Light Blues.
🎙️ Michael Beale spoke exclusively to @RangersTV following the departure of Sporting Director Ross Wilson. pic.twitter.com/DlY1S6ZvtM
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) April 13, 2023
He may have come under fire from large portions of the Rangers support for his policy over recruiting players.
However, Beale was sad to lose Wilson to Forest.
"Firstly, you're disappointed to lose a good person, someone I've worked with over the last three-and-a-half years over two spells at the club," Beale explained. "Ross was hugely positive in his day-to-day work here at the club and he brought a lot of the departments together.
"His job was to oversee first-team football operations, recruitment, medical, the academy, the women's teams and bring all of that in line. We've seen good success from the time that he was here.
"He was influential in me coming back in and he's a person that I probably spoke to the most out of anybody at Rangers and was between me and the board. I feel like I've lost a good ally.
"One thing I would say that is a big strength of Ross is that he never micromanaged anybody. He allowed people to grow in their role and do it to the fullest.
"In the short-term there will be a void in terms of Ross leaving, but the heads of departments are ready to step into the role. A lot of the planning for pre-season and recruitment for next season has already been done.
"I've been aware for the last couple of weeks. I'm disappointed for Rangers that Ross has moved on.
"On a personal level I'm happy for him and his family that he feels this is a challenge he'd like to take.
"Having known Ross for as long as I have, I know this isn't the first opportunity to have come his way. So, if he feels this is the right thing for him then we wish him well, we feel that he did a good job here but now it's time to move forward strongly."
As stated, Beale insists Rangers' recruitment plans for the summer transfer window are already tied up.
The former QPR boss admitted that all the relevant planning meetings with regards to bringing in players ahead of next season had already happened prior to Wilson's move down south.
Beale told RangersTV: "In terms of recruitment and targets Ross and I have been working closely on that. We've got an extensive recruitment team and analysis start that collect the data.
"Meetings have already been had and recruitment and pre-season has very much been finalised. Now, it's just ticking one or two boxes on areas.
"Maybe some players see their futures elsewhere.
“The main part of the recruitment process in terms of identifying players has already happened. Now it’s about executing those deals.”
He added: "He doesn’t play and score goals on the pitch but he does give positivity around the environment.
"I will fill that void as manager and oversee some of the departments for the moment, strongly supported by Stewart Robertson and John Bennett and the board.
"We have a really experienced staff. Ross allowed people to flourish in their roles as heads of departments. So the heads of departments will naturally step up and then we’ll see how we go.
"There is only a small portion of the season to go. And then we’ll assess everything in the summer, as any club would do, in terms of their structure.
"Nothing changes massively in terms of the team preparation, that’s on me, in terms of the training and how we’re going to play and approach each game. That’s on me and my management team.
"We’ve trained well this week and it’s work as normal in that aspect."
In terms of the game this weekend at home to St Mirren, Connor Goldson won't be back in time to return to the starting XI.
Beale expects his star centre-half to be back fit for the Aberdeen game a week on Sunday.
Providing a fitness update, the manager said: "From last weekend, Connor won’t return. He’ll be more likely to back for Aberdeen, or certainly the semi-final at the end of the month.
"We’ve got one or two bumps and bruises and players didn’t train this morning. There was a game on Tuesday against Chelsea reserves in which Scott Wright, Ianis Hagi, Leon King and Rabbi Matondo were able to play and get some valuable minutes.
"So we’ll assess again, then pick the squad for the weekend."
