I saw red in last game for Gers but we still managed to beat Celtic. Big Jock said he’d boot my **** all way to America if I’d cost game
RANGERS ON TOUR
And the man who led the Northern Irish to Euro 2016 will quiz SFA chief Stewart Regan on the future of the national side at all levels.
O’Neill lives in Edinburgh and it’s understood he wants to bring Hearts No.2 Austin MacPhee on board if he takes the Scotland job. MacPhee is part of O’Neill’s backroom team with Northern Ireland and should also be able to juggle club and international commitments with the Scots.
O’Neill wants his future resolved sooner rather than later – preferably before January 24 when the draw for UEFA’s new Nations League tournament takes place.
He is booked on a flight to Switzerland with the IFA and has been talking to his players about the summer tour to Panama and Costa Rica.
An IFA source said: “There is no sense of gloom or worry. Before Christmas we had a very positive meeting with Michael. We have an attractive package on the table and feel we are in a strong position.”
But O’Neill, who also led Northern Ireland to the World Cup play-offs, has also not given up hope of landing a club job in England.
He turned down the chance to move to Championship Sunderland before Chris Coleman took over and was in the running for the West Brom job only for the Baggies to opt for Alan Pardew.
The Stoke board discussed O’ Nei l l f o l lowing the departure of Mark Hughes last weekend and a move to Southampton would appeal if they opt to axe underpressure Mauricio Pellegrino.
In the last game of his first Rangers stint before going to America, he’d been made captain for an Old Firm derby.
Gaffer Jock Wallace had given him the honour, knowing he would be on a plane to the States two days later.
A Bobby Wi l l iamson goal secured a 1- 0 victory for Gers in 1984. But for Nicholl, his game ended in shame.
An of f- the- bal l stamp in retaliation at Brian McClair saw him red-carded.
And while he sat inside, his team-mates were forced to hang on for a win.
So what would fearsome Wallace make of his skipper’s actions afterwards?
Nicholl recal ls his old manager’s rage. He was warned that if Rangers had lost in his absence, the legendary boss would have KICKED him all the way to the USA.
The only thing that saved him from an even bigger rollicking was the three points. The new Ibrox coach loved his time under Wallace then Graeme Souness, when
he returned to the club for a second spell in 1986.
He knows he can’t treat players with the same iron fist both of them used back in their heyday.
But Nicholl, brought back by gaffer Graeme Murty, is adamant that the principles and standards set by Wallace should still exist at Rangers now.
Recalling that day 34 years ago from the club’s Florida training base, Nicholl said: “In my last game big Jock made me captain for the day.
“It was against Celtic at Ibrox and I was flying to America on the Monday. But I was sent off.
“Thankfully Bobby scored with an overhead kick to win it 1- 0.
“It was a case of straw hat and trumpets after the game.
“All the boys were there and Jock slammed the door.
“He’s shouting at me: ‘ You’re the luckiest man in the world. You let yourself down, you let the team down and you almost let the club