And Robbie reveals that Berra is firmly in his plans

Tony Asghar is the head coach’s main point of contact, Neilson said: “No, not at all. I had the same situation with a sporting director at Hearts.

“When anything moves in a football club and something comes out of the blue, the first relationship anyone looks at is the sporting director.

“But Tony and I had a great relationship. We worked well together and managed to get the team promoted – and I wish Tony all the best in the future.

“I think he’ll do great things at the club. It’s a good managerial appointment to move forward.

“Football clubs are about success. We managed to have success there and the relationships were all good.

“It’s just that, if it had been a different club coming into ask me the question, it would have been a different answer.”

Meanwhile, Neilson suggested Christophe Berra could have a key role to play at Tynecastle this season.

Hearts hero Berra was farmed out on loan to Dundee in January and played a key role as the Dark Blues’ fortunes improved.

However, the Dens Park side’s hopes of tempting him back look to be dead and buried after

Neilson talked up his former team-mate’s leadership qualities.

“I know Christophe well,” said Neilson.

“Obviously, I played with him and I’ve known him for a long time. For me, he’s a leader.

“He had issues (last season) but, for me, it’s a fresh start for everyone – to come back in pre-season and try to get themselves back in the team.

“I can’t comment (on Christophe’s treatment under Daniel Stendel) because I don’t know the ins and outs of it.

“I had a brief chat with Christophe and he was very open and honest about the situation. While he didn’t go into detail he was quite glad that he can come back and, hopefully, get a fresh start

“For me, we’ve got to have leaders in the team. We’ve got a lot of young players that have come through and, while the younger ones have shown great potential, that was when the team was doing well.

“When the team started to not do so well, they found it quite hard and that’s when you need big characters and guys who have been over the course to help them through it.

“Christophe’s one of them.”