Ex-Rangers forward Fashion Sakala has revealed the details of his departure from Ibrox last summer.
The Zambian international joined Saudi Pro League club Al-Fayha in August for £4m, after having spent two seasons in Glasgow, but the striker claims he was not happy with how Michael Beale dealt with the situation. He said he was told to stay away for the final two weeks of his time at the club:
“He clearly showed me that I wasn’t part of his plans without telling me anything. The time I received a call from Mick Beale was when he told me not to come to the training ground anymore. That was hard to take for me because I didn’t do anything. Players leave clubs but they are not told not to go to the training ground, not told not to be part of the team. I stayed without training with the club for almost two weeks. I think I deserved much better, I deserved to be respected at least.”
“I understand you want to sell me to get money to buy new players, that is fine. But let me just be part of the team, let me say goodbye nicely to my teammates. When I received a call that I shouldn’t go to the training ground anymore, I didn’t see any of my teammates anymore. It was hard to say goodbye in such a bad way to people who looked after me so well – Tavernier, Goldson – I had to talk to them on phones when it was time to leave.”
Fans on X felt rather sorry for Sakala, with many not mincing their words about Beale and his brief stint in charge of the Light Blues:
It was a terrible way to treat him. I was a big Sakala fan. He wasn't perfect maybe that's the reason. He gave 100% which is more than the team have, the past few yrs. I think PC could've gotten more out of him. I always said if he had better guidance, he could've been better.
— Jazz A Rey (@jazziT02) December 13, 2023
I'd happily have kept Sakala and forego the 4m considering how little we have had in return. The voy gave everything every time he stepped on the park and played with a smile. Plus, his form since leaving is far better than most of the Beale signings.
— Stephen something (@Rellim1977) December 13, 2023
Beale obviously wasn't a Man Manager. I get the impression that if a player didn't fit into his system (WHATEVER THE HELL THAT WAS) Beale had no time for him. He fooled everyone from the board to the fans!
— Ian Mac (@sonofwill57) December 13, 2023
Honestly believe no matter how a player behaves etc while he is with us.we should rise above any pettiness and treat the man with respect and dignity.its in times like this when you show your https://t.co/OO77Eqcg9C jr was a decent player for us and gave his all.simple as tbat
— stuart (@stuartgilmour9) December 13, 2023
His goals and assists are worth more than 4 million in my opinion. Would of really flourished under clement aswell.
— ron (@lancs_rob) December 13, 2023
We should've replaced him a transfer window or two earlier but still held on until the summer there. No player should be treated the way he was, especially when he done absolutely nothing wrong with us
— KyleRC (@_KyleRC_) December 13, 2023
Beale’s man-management skills left a lot to be desired
From the outside looking in, it appears that the summer was particularly turbulent at the club. You can understand Beale wanting to stamp his mark, moving players out he didn’t want and recruiting those he felt would improve the squad.
However, there is a right way and wrong way of going about things, and Beale clearly showed very poor man-management in Sakala’s case. Many will feel that the club got good money for the player in the end but, ultimately, the proceeds were wasted by Beale in the transfer market.