Kelly leaves Ireland set-up ahead of World Cup campaign
IRELAND goalkeeping coach Alan Kelly will not be part of Stephen Kenny’s backroom team for the forthcoming World Cup campaign, after his exit was confirmed last night.
The 52-year-old said the Covid-19 pandemic was the reason for his decision, but there is a view within the FAI that aspects of the working relationship between Kelly and Kenny meant a parting of the ways was inevitable.
Uncertainty has lingered over Kelly’s position since the eventful November international window with the former Irish netminder forced to come out and deny ‘innuendo’ that he was responsible for the leak of the details of Kenny’s motivational speech ahead of the game with England.
It’s understood that Kelly disagreed with certain comments made by the Ireland manager in the build-up to that fixture but Kenny subsequently stressed that the ex-Sheffield United goalkeeper did not make any complaint to the FAI.
Kelly opted against travelling to Dublin for the UEFA Nations League game with Bulgaria, citing the fact he suffers from asthma and concerns around the pandemic as explanation for that decision.
Speaking in December, Kenny indicated that he anticipated Kelly would be around for the 2021 campaign but the view in Abbotstown was that his position would become a subject of debate again and that scenario has come to pass.
Kelly – who is also the goalkeeping coach at Everton – said in a statement released through the FAI that “with Covid-19 still viciously circulating in our communities, it is with a heavy heart that
I have decided the time is right to step down from my role and pass on a fantastic group of goalkeepers to a new goalkeeping coach for the upcoming World Cup qualifying campaign.
“It has been an absolute honour and a privilege to represent the Republic of Ireland as a player and coach for the last 28 years. A special thank you goes out to all the Irish international goalkeepers I have played alongside and had the good fortune to coach.”
Kenny said: “Alan called to inform me of his decision and I have accepted it. I want to thank him for his time as goalkeeper coach with me and for his overall contribution to Irish football.”
Kelly’s farewell follows Damien Duff ’s decision to step away last Friday with the primary reason for his departure related to how the FAI handled the ‘Videogate’ issue, with the coach feeling that the resultant investigation – which found that Kenny had no case to answer – was nonsensical.
Meanwhile, Bohemians have signed talented winger Stephen Mallon from Sheffield United and he will be joined at Dalymount Park by Bastian Hery after a late move to dash the hopes of St Patrick’s Athletic.