Michael Beale faced the unique challenge of a club AGM as the first hurdle to overcome in his new position as Rangers manager.

While his first real test in the dugout will come against Hibs when domestic matters resume on December 15 - this was a similarly important appearance.

With board members quizzed on recruitment, fan ticketing policies and Ross Wilson's track record put under major scrutiny - Beale was offered a moment to raise spirits and offer an insight into his management ethos and plans at the club.

He took part in a short question-and-answer session in front of shareholders and fans before addressing the Rangers support with a passionate speech at the AGM.

After receiving rapturous applause when he was introduced to the meeting, Beale delivered an inspiring message in the latest event in a "whirlwind" start to life in the top job at Ibrox.

“It’s fantastic to be back at the football club. I’m delighted to be back and representing you," said the new Ibrox boss.

“The last week has been a whirlwind, a lovely one. The job comes with huge responsibility towards yourselves. It’s an institution but I am supremely confident. The transition from first-team coach to manager has been very smooth.

“I had a lot of highlights and great experiences from my time here before and it gives me great confidence with regards to the journey I am on now. We need to get an identity into the players and recruitment has to fall into line with how we want to play.

“I feel like I have been a manager for a lot longer than I actually have. We will be hands on, we need to make the group stronger. The players have been great. I think 85 percent were probably recruited during the previous spell I had with the club.

“I know why they joined Rangers. I have been alongside them and I watch them achieve a lot of what they wanted to achieve. I know they’ve had disappointments too.

“It’s about being collectively very strong and creating the kind of identity we want. That identity has to speak to you as fans.

“I have an understanding of what you want to see on the pitch and it’s important we implement that fast. It’s got to be exciting. The training is vitally important. I think we can see improvements.

“The players go and play so I need to give them that identity and that clarity on their roles. I need to look at them and make sure I’m seeing the right things in their eyes as well.

“We’ve won a cup in the last 18 months, we also reached a European final, so it’s important we don’t listen to all the background noise. It’s important we get to work and we create a strong identity on the pitch. I’m hugely excited to get started.

“We have a warm-up this weekend, but then it’s Hibs and that’s the most important thing. I’m still learning about the new players and I’m talking to the players who have been here a while."

Despite his "supremely confident" attitude to his new post, Beale tempered expectations as he insisted he was keen to avoid "bold statements" having just returned to Glasgow.

But he rallied support as he predicted a successful future at the club, vowing to "take the handbrake off" and provoking a reaction from his Ibrox squad.

In a defiant sign-off to his passionate address Beale insisted his desire for the club not to take a "backwards step against anybody" under his stewardship as he beamed: "We're Rangers and we shouldn't change for anybody".

He continued: “I am excited about the future. I don’t want to make any bold statements, I just want the team to go on and perform strongly in the coming weeks. I can’t wait to be back at Ibrox, it will be a hugely proud moment for me and my family.

“But I just want to see a reaction from the team. The future in my eyes is extremely positive. I want to see real cohesion and togetherness. I want to take the handbrake off.

“I want us to really go for it in every game. We’re Rangers and we shouldn’t change for anybody.

“We should have a strong identity on the pitch and every time we play we should try and force that on our opponents. We shouldn’t take a backwards step against anybody, certainly not at Ibrox.”

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