Graeme Souness takes final Rangers jab at Michael Beale as loaded reality check arrives before Sunderland 'gamble'

Rangers icon Graeme Souness has fired a major warning at former Ibrox boss Michael Beale as he inches closer to a return to football management with Sunderland.

The Londoner looks set to take over from Tony Mowbray at the Stadium of Light with the English Championship side failing to land first choice Reims boss Will Still - and they promotion-chasing Black Cats are now set to turn to Beale just over two months since he was axed by the Scottish Premiership giants. Reports suggest Beale will be in the stands for Saturday's clash at the Stadium of Light between Sunderland and Bristol City.

And with Beale nearing a deal, Souness hasn't forgotten the his ill-fated spell at the Light Blues. Beale was shown the door after less than a year the hot seat after stepping away from his role as Steven Gerrard's trusted lieutenant. He first become a manager in his own right at Queens Park Rangers and steered the club to a promotion push - but would leave the London club behind when Rangers came calling following the sacking of Giovanni van Bronckhorst last November.

Writing in his Daily Mail column, Souness said: "Michael Beale looks set to take over as the new head coach at Sunderland and I suspect that job will be just as difficult as he found it at Rangers. It was a gamble going to Scotland and it did not work out for him.

"Sunderland will be something similar in that it is a huge club with big expectations. They are a Premier League level club, in reality. Also, one of his early games will be against Newcastle in the FA Cup? I wish him all the best!"