Kearney glad to finally get Nicholl as first-team coach

St Mirren boss Oran Kearney insists Jimmy Nicholl was worth the wait after being forced to delay his move for the veteran coach because of a hip replacement.

The former Raith Rovers and Cowdenbeath boss has joined his fellow Northern Irishman in Paisley after being appointed as the Buddies’ new first-team coach.

The move was first mooted last month but was put on hold while Nicholl – previously number two to Kearney’s father-in-law Kenny Shiels at Kilmarnock – went under the surgeon’s knife.

But now that the 61-year-old former Manchester United and Rangers star is back on his feet, the Saints boss believes Nicholl will be a major help as he continues to get a grip on Scottish football.

“It’s dragged on for a while but in Jimmy’s words, he’s finally fit,” said Kearney.

“For years he’s been putting off a hip replacement. He tells me they call him up every six months looking to get the surgery booked in.

“But he was always at a club or away helping on international duty with Northern Ireland, so he’d put it off for another six months.

“Because he hasn’t been with a club for a wee while, he was finally able to get it done in-between Northern Ireland games.

“It was about a week later that I called him to see if he’d be interested coming here.

“He could have come in at that stage, however he wanted to get himself up to a level of fitness where he’s off the walking stick, can drive again and has some independence.”