Jimmy Nicholl has walked away from Sevco.
The former Rangers (IL) and Northern Ireland defender was drafted in to assist Graeme Murty in January to add some traditions to the faltering tribute act.
With Murty binned after losing 5-0 to Celtic Nicholl took charge for the final three matches of the season but has now opted out before waiting to be sacked by Steven Gerrard.
“Will I bow out now? Yeah, listen, it was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down,” he told The Sun after the 5-5 slapstick at Easter Road.
“It was only for six months, it might have been different. I don’t know but that will be it for me.
“We got off to a great start. We were in Florida then ended up six or seven games in a row and you’re thinking, ‘This is great’.
“But then all of a sudden you see things that shouldn’t be happening and then think we can improve on that.”
Nicholl sat by Murty’s side as Celtic won 3-2 at Ibrox, 4-0 at Hampden and 5-0 at Celtic Park to kill Murty mania stone dead.
The euphoria of heavy wins over Falkirk and Ayr United were quickly forgotten although the dressing room cheers of being drawn against Celtic in the Scottish Cup will last forever.
Gerrard has still to announce his full backroom team with only Gary McAllister- who left Motherwell in 1985- a certainty to be involved.
The new man won’t return to Ibrox until June 1 after he enjoys Liverpool’s Champions League Final against Real Madrid and plays in the testimonial of Dirk Kuyt.
With Gerrard already showing both his arrogance and ignorance it seems certain that the Banter Years will continue for some time to come.
