Soccer: Nicholl returns to Walsall

Former Walsall manager Chris Nicholl has returned to the Nationwide League first division club to take over as first-team coach.

The former Northern Ireland international, who has also managed Southampton, was Walsall’s manager between 1994 and 1997.

In his first season at Bescot he guided the club to promotion from the Third Division.

The return to Walsall renews his long standing links with current manager Ray Graydon. They were team-mates at Aston Villa and Graydon also coached for Nicholl at Southampton and Walsall.

Nicholl said: ‘‘Now I am living back up here, he has reversed the roles. It will be interesting for me to work under him as a boss.’’

Nicholl takes over as coach from Mick Halsall, who is returning to his post as youth-team coach.