Unpopular ex QPR and Sunderland boss interviews for Championship return

Former QPR and Sunderland manager Michael Beale could be set to make a return to the Championship having interviewed for the vacant position at Hull City.

The Tigers sacked Ruben Selles at the end of the season with the ex Reading head coach given just six months at the MKM Stadium. Hull City narrowly avoided relegation from the second tier on the last day of the season, surviving on goal difference.

Football Insider claims that Beale has interviewed to take over at Hull City in what would be a first EFL join since leaving Sunderland last year. Beale had spent a short spell as assistant to Steven Gerrard in the Saudi Pro League at Al-Ettifaq.

Ex QPR manager interviewed by Hull City

It’s fair to say that Beale may not be treated to a warm welcome should he return to Loftus Road or Sunderland with Hull City. The 44-year-old left both of those posts in a cloud of controversy.

Beale arrived at Loftus Road in June 2022 and, after winning just one of his first five matches, eventually hauled QPR to the top of the Championship table in October 2022. Beale was then approached by Wolves thanks to his work but turned down the Premier League opportunity to stay in west London.

At the time, the head coach spoke of his loyalty to QPR. He said: “Integrity is a real big thing for me, and loyalty. You don’t give it to receive it back, but if those are the things you live by, then at times when you are put in a position you have to be strong by them.

“I don’t think we are anywhere near where I want QPR to be as a group. I’m enjoying working with them, we’ve got a lot to do, but I’m excited by it. There’s going to 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.”

However, just a month later, Beale opened talks with Scottish Premiership side Rangers and eventually quit Loftus Road. At the time, QPR director of football Les Ferdinand said: “Naturally we are hugely disappointed to lose Mick.

“Our extensive research when we were looking for a new head coach highlighted him as being very much aligned with the direction we are moving in as a football club. The start to the season we have made, coupled with very attractive football being played, gave us cause for optimism as we looked to build on the previous three seasons. That optimism remains but there is no doubt it is a blow to lose Mick so soon into his tenure.”

Michael Beale fallout with Sunderland supporters

Beale spent 11 months with Rangers before being sacked in October 2023 after three defeats in seven league matches. The manager then moved to Sunderland in December 2023 but had been sacked by February 2024.

The manager fell out with Black Cats fans during that time. In January 2024, he said: "If anyone at looks at my CV, I've worked for massive football clubs so I get the expectations, that's no problem.

"People didn't want me here in the first place. We can say afterwards that it's about style of this or style of that, let's be honest and cut to the chase, people didn't want me so I'll come and do the work and ultimately, we'll win games or we won't. That's the reality, there wasn't a feel-good factor about me coming in which is fine, you get on with the work and I'm not crying over it. I'm a big boy and I'm experienced.

"Personal things, I think when people are personal... if people want to criticise the way the team is playing, I'll take that. The last two games I actually think that we've played against two good football teams in this league, and they weren't better than us. That's my view and I'm allowed that view. I think if we had a bit more presence in the final third or one of the players that is injured wasn't, I think we'd have won at least one of, if not both of those games. That's my view and I'm allowed it.

"If it's about job I'm doing then it's about the job, but if it's about anything else... listen I can't change my accent or where I'm from. That's where I'm from and I'm proud of where I'm from. If it's about football then fine but I feel I deserve a little bit more respect because my journey deserves that. But people if don't want to give it, fine, I have to get on with the job.”

In other news, QPR dealt £1.7m transfer setback as four first team stars quit Millwall.