Michael Beale: Sunderland's new head coach hungry to prove value to fans

Michael Beale was in charge of Rangers most recently, but was unable to bring silverware to Ibrox

Michael Beale is hungry to prove to the Sunderland fans that his appointment as head coach was the right decision after succeeding Tony Mowbray in the role.

Beale, 43, has previously managed Championship rivals QPR and most recently Scottish giants Rangers.

There was a mixed response from Black Cats fans to his appointment, after he was sacked by Rangers in October.

"I think I'm the right person moving forward but I've got to earn the right," Beale told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"I've been given the job and what I do next is really important. I don't hear all of the noise because I'm focused on the job but I'd have to live on the moon not to have been aware.

"That's because the fans love this club and I'll have to win them over. If I was worried about that I wouldn't be sat here now.

"I've got a lot of admiration for the way they've reacted because it tells me they love their club, it's important to them, and they're protecting it from this guy from a different part of the country who has come out of a high-profile job and it's deemed not to be successful.

"My win percentages there [at Rangers] and the changes I went through need a bit more of a look at to be honest, but the proof will be what I do next."

'Work where it matters' - Beale ready for pressure

Michael Beale (right) coached Rangers in the Old Firm derby with Celtic - one of the world's most famous rivalries

Expectation and fervent support were part of daily life in the blue side of Glasgow, as Beale went about trying to establish Rangers as the dominant force amid Celtic's return to form under Ange Postecoglou and now Brendan Rodgers.

His experiences on the south side of the River Clyde have not tempered his desire to be involved at the sharp end, and the sizeable support and demands of a passionate fanbase which come with a major club.

"That power of what's behind the team is what you want, you can hear the excitement is in my voice," Beale added.

"If you're going to work in football, work where it matters, where there's expectation and potential. If there isn't that kind of noise around it then you're probably at the wrong level."

His arrival at the Stadium of Light has coincided with Mike Dodds - who served in interim charge before the appointment - being promoted to assistant.

Existing coaches Michael Proctor and Alessandro Barcherini will also form part of the staff, and Beale is excited by the potential.

"I tried to nab Mike a few back with a different club," Beale said. "He's really important to me, there's no manager who is superhuman and you have to share the workload.

"We've already done that and he worked very well for Tony [Mowbray].

"In time if there's room and it's right to then we'll add to it. Everyone plays their role, Mike is hugely important and we have a lot of the same beliefs."

Sunderland 'obsessed with progression'

Kristjaan Speakman is sporting director at Sunderland and felt a change was necessary to continue the development at the Stadium of Light

Mowbray's departure before the naming of Beale as his successor has been speculated on by fans and pundits alike, and there were plenty of positive words from sporting director Kristjaan Speakman toward the Teessider for his work at Sunderland.

"The club is obsessed with progression and improving and we felt to meet that progression and improvement we need to make the change," Speakman said.

"Do you make the change early, when it's a surprise, people are maybe concerned and it doesn't really weigh up to the results? We weren't in a bad position; or do you make the decision late?

"Michael [Beale] has already spoken about the opportunity to come into a team which is performing well, the team is in a good spot and you've not got to pick the team up off a long series of negative results, so we felt it was the right time to make a change."