Hartley expects Nicholl to make Ibrox return as Murty’s assistant

FALKIRK manager Paul Hartley last night confirmed he expects assistant Jimmy Nicholl to be named the Rangers No 2 this week.

The Ibrox outfit have been granted permission by the Bairns to speak to Nicholl and Hartley revealed only ‘details’ require to be ironed out for the former Rangers full-back to join Graeme Murty’s management team.

Nicholl will remain with Falkirk until after Tuesday’s derby with Dunfermline, but it is fully anticipated the Northern Ireland assistant will then return to the club he graced as a player during two spells in the 1980s. The 61-year-old (left) only joined Falkirk in October but Hartley admits he would never dream of blocking the former Millwall, Raith Rovers and Cowdenbeath boss from accepting the call from Govan.

Hartley said: ‘Rangers have asked for permission to speak to Jimmy, so we’ll see how things develop over the next couple of days.

‘We’ve given him permission to go and speak to them and we’ll know in the next couple of days if he’s going to take the job.

‘He’ll be with us until Tuesday at

least, and I think he has just to sort some details out with Rangers.

‘Of course I’m disappointed to be losing him, but I see the other side of it.

‘Jimmy was out of the game for a while and we brought him in, but it’s one of these opportunities — we’re not here to stand in people’s way.

‘I’ve really enjoyed my time working with him. I hoped it was going to be for the next couple of years, but things happen in football.

‘If things move along for him, then we wish him all the best.

‘This has come out of the blue, so we just have to think about who we get in to replace him.’

Murty had remained tight-lipped on the subject following Rangers’ goalless draw at Celtic Park, saying only: ‘I’m not going to talk about anyone who is employed by another football club, either players or staff.

‘That’s not my place.’