Jimmy Nicholl followed Calderwood when he took over as manager at Aberdeen, again serving as his assistant until the two parted company with the club in May 2009. He resumed his partnership with Calderwood at Kilmarnock in 2010. Nicholl was appointed manager of Cowdenbeath in June 2010, but he left Cowdenbeath at the end of the 2010–11 season after they were relegated from the First Division. Nicholl was then appointed assistant manager of Kilmarnock for a second time, by Kenny Shiels on 15 June 2011. Kilmarnock won the 2011–12 Scottish League Cup under Shiels and Nicholl, but Shiels was sacked by Kilmarnock
Dennis Shiels his transfer to Sheffield United was made on the understanding that he would be able to continue his studies. During his full-time football career in England, he continued his education which began at St Malachy's College, Belfast 1952–57, gaining additional qualifications leading to B.ED.Phys. Ed., Sheffield Univ. and MSc Sports Psychology, Manchester.Met.Univ. As an EUFA A Coach he worked for The FA Coach Education Programme and setting up and developing College Football Academies in Manchester and Northamptonshire. Dennis Shiels Dennis Patrick Shiels (born 24 August 1938) is a former Northern Ireland B international footballer who played as a centre forward