MICHAEL BEALE admits he must prove himself as a boss before he can even begin to consider an emotional return to Ibrox as Rangers manager.

The Englishman started work at Queens Park Rangers on Monday as he took his first steps into the dugout following his decision to leave Aston Villa after just a couple of months in the Midlands.

Beale has replaced former Light Blues boss Mark Warburton at Loftus Road and will now aim to lead his side to promotion to the Premier League this term.

His sterling work alongside Steven Gerrard - which culminated in title 55 being won in May last year - had raised questions about Beale leading Rangers in his own right one day.

But the former Sao Paulo, Chelsea and Liverpool coach knows he must now make a name for himself as a number one as he played down his chances of succeeding Giovanni van Bronckhorst at Ibrox.

"No-one turns down a team the size of Glasgow Rangers, Beale said when asked about any ambitions to return to Glasgow and be Rangers manager in the future.

"As it stands right now, I was a good assistant at Rangers. Rangers now, where they are, they can go and secure any manager they want, within reason, I think. It is a fantastic club.

"I am just a novice manager. I have to do well in my job here for QPR. If I do well, who knows?

"I moved to Brazil, I never thought that was possible. I moved to Liverpool, I never thought that was possible.

"Do I have a lot of friends at Glasgow Rangers and am I friendly with the board and everyone around the club still? Yes. My links are strong.

"But I think that when Gio eventually decides to move on or something happens there, they will have a host of people after them.

"Because that is where the club is today. It has just played in the Europa League final. I think they will be looking at much bigger fish than Mick Beale."