Michael Beale has lifted the lid on sending Robbie Neilson a message after mistakenly stating that Aberdeen were the third best team in Scotland.
The Rangers gaffer suggested that the Dons were the third force in the country's top flight instead of Hearts.
He made the claims prior to his side's Viaplay Cup semi-final earlier this month.
This was before their doing at Tynecastle, when Hearts ran out 5-0 winners.
Jim Goodwin would of course proceed to lose his job after a disastrous defeat against Darvel in the Scottish Cup and then a 6-0 humiliation at the hands of Hibs.
Beale defended himself by stating that he didn't look at the Premiership table before making the claim.
However, he has conceded that he he made a mistake and in turn reached out to Neilson to clear that up.
He said: “Listen to these words, they are the third-best team in the country. I know I got a little bit of stick for getting that wrong.
“I sent Robbie a message via a mutual friend straight after because I knew I’d made a mistake there. I hadn’t looked at the league table and I know that sounds crazy but I know where my team are in the league.
“You guys tell me every week where I am and how many points I am behind so there's no need for me to look at the league table.
“There was no disrespect in that. I think Robbie has done a fantastic job for the second time at Hearts.
"Playing in Europe kicks you on two or three notches and the fact they had European group stage football this year would have taken his players on two or three levels and we’re seeing that domestically.
“It’s the strongest Hearts squad I remember. It’s a feisty game, we take good fans, their fans are up for it and I’m sure they’re looking forward to us going there and we’re looking to going there.”
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