Former Aston Villa and Northern Ireland defender Chris Nicholl dies aged 77

The former Southampton and Walsall manager had been living with dementia.

Former Walsall manager Chris Nicholl (Nick Potts/PA)

League Cup-winning former Aston Villa skipper Chris Nicholl has died at the age of 77, former club Walsall have announced.

Nicholl, who later played for and then managed Southampton before taking charge of the Saddlers, had been living with dementia, which he attributed to brain damage caused by repeatedly heading balls over his lengthy career.