Earlier this evening Rangers confirmed that former defender Jimmy Nicholl had returned to Rangers as our new assistant manager.
The 61 year old returns to Ibrox with a wealth of experience under his belt, both as a manager in his own right and right hand man with his most recent roles being assistant to Paul Hartley at Falkirk and Michael O’Neill at Northern Ireland.
In his playing days he had two spells with the club, back in 1983/84 where he helped us to the League Cup and then back under Graeme Souness between 1986/89 claiming two League Championship medals and two further League Cups.
Speaking to the Official Site following his appointment, he explained.
‘I got the opportunity all those years ago with John Greig and Jock Wallace, and then I thought that was going to be it, I`d had my wee spell and fulfilled one of my ambitions. Then, three years later I was back with Graeme Souness and Walter Smith. Then, again I thought that was it after that. But 30 years later to have the opportunity to go back to Rangers in this capacity as assistant manager with Graeme Murty, I am so excited and chuffed to bits that Graeme has given me this opportunity.’
He went on to say.
‘I know so many of the staff and the guys in the Academy, and that`s great as it means I`m not walking in to a strange environment where I`m having to spend a bit of time getting to know everybody. It`s a good opportunity now to be away in Florida for this length of time to be around the training ground and the hotel with the players without it being a pressurised situation. For the last three years, I`ve been doing the Northern Ireland stuff with Michael O`Neill and checking up on players, and I enjoyed that break from full-time football.’
He ended by saying.
‘There comes a time when it gets to you though and you realise you miss the day-to-day stuff. But Paul Hartley gave me an opportunity to get back into it at Falkirk, and I`m disappointed to be leaving them in the same position as we arrived. I would like to thank Paul and Falkirk for allowing me to take this opportunity.’
