It is Chris Nicholl, a former youth player at Burnley. He was released by the Clarets but went on to have a long and successful playing career, particularly at Aston Villa.
He had long spells as manager at Southampton and then Walsall before being replaced in the summer of 1997 by Jan Sorensen, the Dane who had played in a European Cup Final for Bruges against Liverpool. In his three years at Walsall he had lifted them to a respectable position in Division Two having taken over a 3rd Division side.
He had been running a pub in Tamworth and it was a poor appointment by Walsall. He stayed just a year before being replaced himself by Ray Graydon who is now in his fourth season in charge.
Graydon had worked for Nicholl at Southampton and now Nicholl comes in to work as Graydon's first team coach. He replaces Mick Halsall who reverts, by choice, to youth team coach.
