Robbie Neilson in bold Rangers statement as Hearts boss begins next stage of Jambos rebuild

Robbie Neilson admits Hearts are still “four or five years” off Rangers ’ level as he gets to work on reducing the gap.

The gutted Gorgie boss insists all eyes at Tynecastle immediately turned to recruitment after Saturday’s Scottish Cup Final defeat to the Ibrox side.

Despite only one place separating the sides in the Premiership, Rangers finished 28 points clear of Hearts.

But Neilson is determined to cut the gap step by step. And after completing stage one of the mission by securing European group stage football next season he insists recruitment will be extensive.

Out of contract Livingston winger Alan Forrest and Beerschot striker Lawrence Shankland are top targets for the Jambos.

And Neilson said: “The boys come back on June 21 and now it’s all eyes on recruitment.

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“We need to develop the squad. It’s important that we bring quality players in.

“I think against Rangers, the changes that Rangers could make, we didn’t quite have that level.

“We need to try and get that. We need to get a group of players that after 80 minutes you can change things and we can have a right go.

“Yeah we can be extensive in our recruitment, but we’re not going to get to that level.

“It will take four or five years