Sunderland fans convinced account linked to ex-Rangers boss Michael Beale was used to defend him and blast ‘toxic fans’
SUNDERLAND supporters reckon they've caught out a social media account linked to sacked ex-boss Michael Beale being used to defend him and blast fans.
The former Rangers manager's short spell with the Black Cats came to an end yesterday after just 12 games - his SECOND sacking of the season.
And it's left plenty of bad feeling - at a club where Beale never seemed a particularly popular appointment at the outset.
And now Eagle-eyed Sunderland fans reckon that Beale - or someone close to him - has been using a deleted account on X/Twitter called @Player_id to post pro-Beale tweets over the last few days.
A Sunderland podcast's called What The Falk podcast saved tweets from the account, one of which included an explanation for Beale appearing to blank a post-match handshake with Sunderland's Trai Hume at the weekend.
A fan wrote: "Michael Beale's 'business account' posted alternative footage from Saturday which it claimed proved that he hadn't seen Trai Hume's outstretched hand as widely suggested.
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"Incredible scenes. Maybe we should have kept him if that's the level of attention-to-detail he's capable of."
The Twitter account also retweeted a post which blamed the board for a lack of backing - not to mention the club's "toxic fans".
It read: "If SAFC sack Beale who in their right mind would want that job? Owners that won't back a manager in the transfer market and a toxic fan base will book the f*** out of him and want him gone as soon as they lose 2 games.
"The self entitlement is on another level up there."
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There was similar support being shown for Beale's time in Glasgow, with one post saying: "Huge title race in SPFL if Rangers eclipse the 92 points they got last year under Michael Beale, I think they will win the league.
It's a big ask to get 32 points from 39 left. It shows how relentless the form was under Ange to hold off Rangers, will they do it again?"
And those Sunderland-based sleuths reckon they've got the evidence that provides that the tweets either came from Beale or someone very close to him.
They have sourced the original Twitter bio for the Player_ID page which reads: "Development programme for players and coaches. Home of the PlayerID podcasts - hosted by @MichaelBeale."
They've tracked down another tweet from 2017 which reads: "Give Michael Beale's new business @Player_ID a follow and check out the website. You'll not regret it!"
Another post, on Beale's LinkedIn profile, shows him sharing the Player_ID logo to promote a podcast with former Rangers coach Cameron Campbell.
One fan wrote: "One fan wrote: "Give this a read. Mick Beale's account for self promotion!"
Another said: "Is it possible that someone close to Beale now runs the account, rather than him directly. Still strange, but less creepy."
SunSport have reached out to Michael Beale for comment.
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