in August -- even if he is still at Walsall.

The man who refused to sell him to Coventry City earlier this year, Chris Nicholl, quit yesterday as manager after three years with the Second Division club. It is a move which could be decisive in Lightbourne's bid to leave the club for one in a higher division. The Bermudian striker has been the club's top scorer the past three seasons and has become one of their most valuable assets. So much so that Nicholl turned down a bid of 400,000 from Coventry City in February.

Now Nicholl has left the club, handing in his resignation yesterday at the end of his one-year contract. It is understood Nicholl, 50, informed the club he no longer wished to be a manager.

"The board of directors were unanimous in wanting Chris to remain with the club and I did everything in my power to persuade him to stay with us,'' said chairman Jeff Bonser yesterday. "Unfortunately on this occasion I was not successful. He feels the time is right for a change, both for himself and the club. It is a sad day but life will go on. If he does stay in football our loss could well be another club's gain.'' Kevin Wilson, the 36-year-old Walsall player-coach, has been groomed under Nicholl to become a manager and has already indicated his desire to take over.

But whether Wilson, or anybody else, can persuade Lightbourne to sign a new contract and remain with the club is doubtful. At the age of 28 he knows time is running out if he is to play in the Premier League. Yesterday, Lightbourne, back home for the summer, said he was not surprised at the manager's decision to quit. Nor was he to hear that Kevin Wilson was the favourite for the post.

"I not really surprised; Walsall don't spend a lot of money and he is very ambitious,'' said Lightbourne yesterday. "I think he's been pushing Kevin Wilson for the spot as well so I wouldn't be surprised if he takes over.'' Lightbourne joined Walsall under Kenny Hibbitt four years ago but it was under Nicholl that his career really took off. Case in point was a seven-game scoring slump by Lightbourne in 1994 when Nicholl first arrived at the club.

The new manager showed faith in the striker, whom he switched from the left flank to centre forward.

"I learned a lot under Chris Nicholl, he's a very strong-minded manager who gets the best out of his players,'' said Lightbourne. "He didn't delve into the transfer market a lot and stuck by his players. He's a great coach. I only have good things to say about him.'' During the season a few clubs in the top two divisions had expressed interest in Lightbourne.

Coventry eye Kyle Coventry are still understood to be keen on the striker who netted 25 goals this season to finish as one of the top scorers in the Second Division again.

"It's still very much the same clubs and Coventry are strongly rumoured to be interested,'' said Neil Johnston, a sports reporter with the Express and Star in Walsall.

"All of this (Nicholl resigning) throws a big cloud over Kyle's future at the club. Obviously the fans want him to stay but he wants to play at a higher level and this might influence his decision, one way or the other.

"I would think around June or July it will get very interesting. Kyle is still holding out and hasn't signed anything yet that will keep him at Walsall for a long period of time.''