Jimmy Nicholl: Rangers to appoint Falkirk assistant as Ibrox number two

Jimmy Nicholl (right) joined Falkirk manager Paul Hartley' backroom team in October

Jimmy Nicholl will be the new assistant manager of Rangers.

The former Ibrox player, currently number two with Falkirk, will leave his job at the Championship club after Tuesday's game against Dunfermline.

Northern Irishman Nicholl, 61, had an earlier period coaching at Rangers, taking the reserve team under Graeme Souness in the 1980s.

Now he will assist Graeme Murty, who has been assured he will be in charge of Rangers until the end of the season.

Nicholl, who also had a spell as a player at Manchester United and managed Raith Rovers to a Scottish League Cup win in 1994, will also continue to work with Northern Ireland, having assisted their manager Michael O'Neill since 2015.

Falkirk, second bottom of the league, defeated Queen of the South 3-2 on Saturday before visiting the Pars on Tuesday.

"Rangers have asked for permission to speak to Jimmy and we've given them permission," said Falkirk manager Paul Hartley after the game.

"He's just to sort out some fine details. If it happens, we wish him all the best. I've really enjoyed working with him for the last couple of months and I'd hoped it was going to be for longer. If the opportunity comes along, we're not going to stand in Jimmy's way.

"I wanted Jimmy to stay because I felt we'd struck up a special bond over the last couple of months, and he's been my manager twice, at Raith and Millwall. He's someone I have a lot of respect for, but when these opportunities come along, it's a fantastic move for him if it happens. But Jimmy will be in the dugout with me at Dunfermline."

Rangers drew 0-0 at Celtic on Saturday at lunchtime and are on a winter break until the Scottish Cup fourth-round tie away to Fraserburgh on 21 January.