STEVIE FRAIL last night accepted he let down Hearts after being sent to the stands during Saturday's 3-1 defeat by Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.
The assistant coach was banished from the dug-out after an altercation with referee Brian Winter and fourth official Willie Collum in a match that also saw Jambos striker Christian Nade, below, red-carded.
However, while Frail apologised for his actions, he revealed he will appeal any touchline ban imposed as a result of the incident.
He said: "I don't want people feeling sorry for me. I let everyone down with the way I reacted. I need to carry the can for that one.
"Christian also got sent off and let the team down but he is not any more culpable than me.
"I was sitting up the stairs wondering how it all happened and it was heartbreaking to watch the team suffer another defeat like that.
"It's the first time I've experienced being sent to the stands in my career and it was a real personal low.
"I'll appeal any touchline ban though as I did not think I was totally out of order when you compare it to other reactions in technical areas. My frustrations boiled over. I kicked the medical bag and dug-out once and I'll have to do better in future and keep my emotions in check."
The Jambos have slipped to eighth place in the SPL after two successive defeats and face a daunting CIS Cup quarter-final tie against Celtic at Parkhead tonight.
Frail is desperate for a morale-boosting victory and admits that as part of a three-tier management structure - alongside Anatoly Korobochka and Angel Chervenkov - he is under constant pressure to deliver results.
And he fears for his position if the Jambos continue on their losing streak.
Frail said: "Everyone is under pressure when a club of our size and fan base is not up there challenging.
"Anyone who is making team decisions should be under pressure. You always fear for your position if you go on a losing run.
"It's the same at any club but these kind of things things are magnified at Hearts. I do fear for my position, and justifiably so. Every coach knows the pressures this job brings. But I'll never walk away as Hearts are too good a club to quit and I do not want to lose this job."
Tynecastle fans have become increasingly frustrated at the lack of leadership at the club but Frail denies the absence of a managerial figurehead is hindering progress on the field.
He said: "The last two results haven't been great but I can't say that's down to the lack of a managerial leader. That's for others to decide.
"A few weeks ago we went on a run that was our best sequence of results since George Burley was manager and we did not have a manager or figurehead.
"I'm not going to say a manager would not benefit the club. However, the pressure of working without a recognised coach has been here more or less since day one yet we still finished second in the SPL and won the Scottish Cup.
"I'd hope fans don't become disillusioned by this. I'm sure they'll stick by us."
Hearts skipper Christophe Berra reckons the Jambos can bounce back against Celtic tonight and gain some kind of revenge for their 5-0 SPL thrashing at Parkhead earlier this season.
He said: "If you can't raise your game in front of 60,000 then you'll never make it in football.
"Celtic have a formidable record at home but we are going there to win."
Hearts could be without Ghanaian Laryea Kingston who is nursing a knee knock. The midfielder is also a doubt for Sunday's Edinburgh derby at Easter Road.
Meanwhile, Jambos midfielder Bruno Aguiar has had surgery to remove a tumour from his foot and will not play again until the end of the year.
The Portuguese star went under the knife for the third time since injuring an ankle in May but his agent, Paulo Barbosa, insisted Aguiar will make a full recovery.
Barbosa said: "Bruno is a strong guy. We think he will be ready in December."
