Michael Beale resigns from management role after just 12 games in charge

Michael Beale has resigned as head coach of Zulte Waregem after just six months in charge, talkSPORT understands. The ex-Rangers boss penned a two-year deal with the Belgian side in May – his first managerial role since he was sacked by Sunderland in February 2024. However, Beale’s return to the dugout has quickly turned into a nightmare, as he departs with his side on a six-match losing run. The Englishman’s final game in charge saw his side get thumped 4-1 by Sint-Truidense on Saturday, leaving them just four points clear of the Belgian Pro League relegation zone. Beale leaves his post Beale’s resignation comes after a breakdown in relations with senior figures at the club. The former EFL boss had previously received a vote of confidence, but talkSPORT understands he has now decided to walk away from the role. During discussions over a number of weeks, Beale’s decision follows a misalignment with leadership over the long-term vision of the club. It is understood he had concerns around the club’s decision-making, particularly due to a lack of consultation and involvement in recruitment. Beale walks despite public backing In his brief spell in Belgium , Beale took charge of 12 games, winning just four times, drawing twice and losing on six occasions. Pressure had begun to mount on the 46-year-old in late October after his Zulte Waregem side suffered a fourth straight defeat to strugglers La Louviere – who have since sacked Ed Still as manager . Despite the poor run of form, sporting director Niels Leroy publicly backed Beale , and insisted his job was not under threat. He said: “Michael Beale is not under pressure right now. “We are confident that we can turn things around and pick up points in the upcoming games. “But even if we were to lose three more games in a row, that wouldn’t automatically mean we’re going to fire Michael. “At this club, we always consider the bigger picture. And we have a philosophy here that we don’t part ways with a coach lightly. “As long as our analysis of a situation gives us sufficient reasons for hope, there is no reason to dismiss a coach.” Despite this, Beale has made the decision to walk away after finding himself on a different page to club officials. His appointment at Zulte Waregem marked the first time the 46-year-old had managed outside of the UK. He started out at Championship side QPR in June 2022 and oversaw an impressive run of eight wins in 11 games that had the west London side at the top of the table. However, QPR’s form nosedived with four losses in five games after Wolves unsuccessfully attempted to poach Beale from Loftus Road. But there was nothing QPR could do to stop Beale from moving north to Scottish giants Rangers in November 2022. Under Beale, Rangers finished the 2022/23 Scottish Premiership in second with 93 points, the largest runners-up total in league history. Despite a bright start in Glasgow, a run of three losses in seven games in his second season at Ibrox brought the end of his tenure. Beale was only out of work briefly though as Sunderland chose to roll the dice on him just over two months later, only for his reign to last only 12 games before he was sacked.