Michael Beale opens up on Aston Villa exit in first press conference as QPR manager

QPR boss Michael Beale says it was difficult to leave Aston Villa, but admitted that he was keen to take on his first managerial role.

Beale left Aston Villa to take on the QPR job earlier this summer.

Formerly Steven Gerrard’s no.2 at both Aston Villa and Rangers, and a former Liverpool compadre of the Reds legend, Beale landed his first managerial position with QPR and held his first press conference today.

Speaking on his Villa Park exit, Beale said:

“It’s in a fantastic place. It’s got great owners, they’re really backing it. It’s an exciting time.

“It was very difficult to leave Steven’s management team because he’s a very decent human being and we had a strong partnership. We’ve always been honest with each other. I’ve always been honest that I want to be a manager, a head coach one day, and it was about the opportunity.”

Beale was briefly linked with the Charlton Athletic job before he took over at QPR. The west Londoners’ managerial search took a little while longer than anticipated, but R’s fans seem optimist for the future of their club with Beale at the wheel.

Since, Villa replaced Beale with former Blackpool boss Neil Critchley – another former Liverpool coach.

“He [Gerrard] was very understanding,” Beale continued.

“I felt the timing is not perfect but it never is in football. In terms of this season, the timing was good. And ultimately, I have to go my own route. I wanted to be a head coach and I felt this was a wonderful opportunity for me.”

Beale’s QPR era has kicked off with the signings of Jake Clarke-Salter and Kenneth Paal. The pair join as free agents and should be a sign of things to come this summer, with QPR once again looking for some shrewd deals in the transfer market.

Villa and Gerrard may miss Beale’s knowledge and expertise. But he had to leave the nest eventually and with QPR, Beale has a really exciting oppurtunity with a club looking to eventually return to the Premier League.

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