FORMER Saints boss Chris Nicholl would be tempted back into management if Northern Ireland came knocking at his door.

While he was back in Southampton attending Ted Bates's funeral yesterday, the former Northern Ireland international centre-half admitted: "I would love the job.

"It wouldn't be easy. As we've seen, they have a few problems, but if they wanted me I'd be very interested."

Nicholl hasn't been in football management since working with another ex-Saints man, Ray Graydon, at Walsall where he still lives.

After managing Saints from 1985 to 1991, he took charge of Walsall in his own right before moving up into the Northern Ireland set-up to look after the under-21 side when his old Saints mentor Lawrie McMenemy took over managing the senior side.

"I loved that job," said Nicholl, "and when Lawrie left and I stepped down, too, I really missed it because I was starting to feel I was making some progress.

"Most of the lads who played for me then have now come of age so that adds extra spice to getting the senior job now."

Nicholl admits he has "talked to one or two" about the job but feels people like Martin O'Neill will be ahead of him. A decision will be made on who succeeds Sammy McIlroy next month.

Nicholl's only connection with football now is as a PA statistician in league games around the midlands.

"I spend most of my time these days playing golf and tennis," said Nicholl, who climbed high in the country's veterans tennis ranking - he had a world Over-50s ranking of 54 - before a serious knee injury forced him to have surgery.

"It's the first knee operation I've ever had," said Nicholl, who added with a smile: "The old club doctor at Southampton didn't fancy the look of either of my knees when I came down to join the club in 1977.

"He was ready to fail me on the spot, but Lawrie Mac would have none of it and signed me anyway!

"I went on to play for eight more years without any problems in either knee."