KYLE LAFFERTY reckons Michael Beale would be the ideal candidate to take over from Steven Gerrard - if he ever decided to leave Ibrox.

Northern Irishman Lafferty worked under the pair during his second stint with Gers and he was impressed with the former Liverpool coach and his training techniques.

Speaking on Open Goal, he said: "The longer I was there I started to realise, Michael Beale, I think he's the man behind it.

"No disrespect to Steven Gerrard who I think is an amazing manager, where he has taken the club from day one to now is night and day - he's made Rangers a force again in the the Premiership and Europe.

"But Michael Beale is behind the scenes and I think he's the brains behind it. Tactically he's amazing.

"I think if Gerrard went to Liverpool and Michael Beale stayed there wouldn't be a change.

"I think Michael Beale is into everything, detail and he could step up to be manager because he's that good."

Lafferty also discussed how nerves got the better of him during his second stint at Ibrox.

He added: 

"I felt nervous as anything at Rangers the second time.

"I don't know if it was because I was playing under Steven Gerrard or what.

"I spoke to him to get some answers why I wasn't playing and I said 'I actually feel like I'm here on trial'.

"He said 'That must be good because you are out to make an impression on me'.

"I said: 'I don't know because I feel nervous, you're making me feel nervous'.

"It was weird. I had a feeling. He keeps himself away from everyone and doesn't really talk to many of the players and I had a feeling that he regretted signing me after a couple of weeks.

"Against Motherwell on my debut I scored twice and then scored against Villarreal so I was thinking 'surely I'm doing alright'.

"Maybe I overthought things.

"Against St Johnstone we were a goal down and I came on and changed the game, we won 2-1 and I played well.

"He came up to me in the dressing room and said 'If you play like that every time you get a chance then that's what we want and why we signed you'.

"It made me feel good but it was strange.

"It was the first time I couldn't have a bit of banter or joke with the manager and he made me feel wanted. It could have made me feel insecure."