Short shifter

I got all of the dash off and everthing and the linkage underneath unconnected and then i go to push of pull the old shifter out. it won't move. there is alittle white ring around the shifter that looks like is holding it on. i was wondering if anyone else has ever had this problem and how to fix it because i would like to put the short shifter in and now there is another problem too from when i disconnected it the first time. now the gears move left in right a bunch. it still switches gears alright but i didnt no if this was a problem or not.