Rangers SACK manager Beale after three losses in opening 7 games of the season

Rangers took the decision to sack Michael Beale on Sunday following his poor start to the Scottish Premiership season.

Saturday's 3-1 defeat to Aberdeen, their third in only seven league games, was greeted with boos by the Ibrox crowd with Beale's popularity at an all time low.

The 43-year old arrived with the reputation of a talented coach who had been the brains behind Steven Gerrard's Scottish title triumph but he has failed to produce a side to excite the supporters and challenge rivals Celtic who are seven points clear at the top of the table already.

With the atmosphere around Ibrox increasingly toxic, Rangers' board came to the conclusion that Beale's tenure should be brought to an end on Sunday evening with a formal announcement expected.

'Everyone realises where we are, the standard and results need to be better,' the Rangers boss added on Sportsound.

'We can't hide behind the fact that we won four games because today wasn't good enough.

'We had enough opportunities to win it then we end up getting beat by a scoreline we should never lose by here at Ibrox off a team like Aberdeen.'

Rangers are seven points behind Premiership leaders Celtic, who won at Motherwell in thrilling fashion on Saturday.

Brendan Rodgers' side scored what looked like a late winner through Luis Palma in the 87th minute, but it was not quite so simple.

Blair Spittal equalised for Motherwell in the fifth minute of stoppage time — only for Celtic to charge down the other end and win it through Matt O'Riley.