At age 24, he started his career by doing coach education for the Welsh FA and working with their Under-14 and Under-15 sides. In 1998, he became fitness coach of West Bromwich Albion F.C.. However, he could not return as a player so he decided to pursue a more propitious managing career by getting a 'A' License and Pro License. Rangers F.C. appointed him as fitness coach in 2004. He was part of their backroom staff when they won the league in 2004-05. Later, he was assistant manager of Al-Nasr Dubai SC but he was unable to settle in his new job and his family could not come so he left after a period of time. Soon after, he did some scouting for Middlesbrough. and joined their backroom staff as fitness coach in 2008. Some years later, he worked in China as a coach for the national team and clubs there.
Africa
Looking for a club in 2014, he eventually joined Gor Mahia, champions of the Kenyan Premier League; it would be the first time he would serve as a head coach. Seemingly, he became the highest-paid coach in the Kenyan Premier League as he was paid over 600000 Kenyan shillings a month. Under his stewardship, he led the K'Ogalo to an unbeaten league title in 2015, an achievement not done in the competition since 1976. Adding to this, the Scot guided them to KPL Top 8 Cup and Kenyan Super Cup titles in 2015 besides winning the league in 2014 and 2015. As a result of his efforts, the former Rangers fitness coach was named 2015 SportPesa Coach of the Year. When he was with Gor Mahia, he rebutted rumors that he was intent on leaving Kenya's most profitable club in late 2015. However, he had a poor relationship with the Gor Mahia president and board since the president requested that his salary be reduced by 50% but could not reconcile him to accept it. Owing to fan pressure, he was again appointed as manager albeit temporarily but they went five games without a triumph under him at the start of 2016. Over a salary dispute with the Gor Mahia board, he was officially fired from the club in early 2016. A few days later, he was offered a three-room apartment in Nairobi from the club but declined, saying that they were 'substandard'. After a tumultuous one-month period as assistant coach for Zamalek, he was sacked by the club in May 2016 and has expressed regret over his premature dismissal. Following the end of his contract as assistant coach of Zamalek, Nuttall joined Ghanaian outfit Accra Hearts of Oak in 2017. He has attended the 2017 WAFU Cup of Nations to scout for potential players. Hearts of Oak started their preseason training ahead of the 2018 Ghanaian Premier League season without him in December 2017; he was sacked in February 2018 despite guiding them to a 3rd-place finish in the Ghana Premier League and the final of the FA Cup in the 2016/2017 season. However he was hired by Sudanese Premier League outfit El-Hilal El-Obeid in October 2018.
