Michael Beale takes Rangers 'standards' banner personally as riled boss reveals talks with Union Bears

Michael Beale has revealed he’s held talks with Rangers fans group Union Bears after being riled by a banner aimed at him.

On the eve of the Viaplay Cup Final against Celtic at Hampden, the Ibrox gaffer admits he took offence to a message displayed at Livingston last week. Beale was criticised by the vocal set of supporters for giving Partick Thistle a goal in Rangers’ Scottish Cup tie, which he claimed upheld the club’s standards. That prompted Union Bears to unveil a banner at Livi which had a pop at Beale by saying: ‘Two trophies in 11 years. Uphold the standards that matter’.

The Rangers manager took that as a personal slight against him. And last week, after the fans group approached him to deny it was a veiled dig, Beale told them he felt the sentiment - and timing of it - was wrong. The Union Bears will be out in force at Hampden today for the vital Old Firm clash and the Rangers boss says they must stay united.

Beale, who has won 13 of his 14 games in charge so far, said: “They (fans) reached out to me personally to say it wasn’t (aimed at me) but I thought it was, to be honest. I did take it personally. It’s one of those things. We have fans all across the world and that’s a small minority. They’re very passionate and I think they do a lot of good things.

“They pay their money and come to support the team. So they’re allowed to voice their opinion But I explained that I would have preferred it not to be in that way and at this moment. It’s fine, everyone has their opinion on the game. I was a fan before I was manager so I get it. But it’s important that we stick together. It’s important that our fans are with us because when we’re united we’re a very strong club.”

Meanwhile, as he prepared to face Celtic for the