Aston Villa confirmed the departure of Richard O’Kelly, ending his three-year stint as Villa’s Assistant Head Coach. The 64-year-old has worked alongside Dean Smith for nearly ten years and was given well-wishes by the Villa manager, but it remains to be seen why he’s leaving so soon before the season begins.
The news has sent shockwaves through the Villa fanbase on social media as many are surprised that an important coach would depart just days prior to their opening Premier League game with Watford. John Terry left weeks ago and now O’Kelly has gone, so Villa have coaching vacancies to fill and the timing isn’t great.
O’Kelly was a professional footballer in his past, playing for Walsall, Port Vale and Grimsby Town before hanging up his boots. The 64-year-old became a coached and worked at Hereford United, Bournemouth and Doncaster Rovers before joining Smith at Walsall and Brentford.
He then followed the 50-year-old to Villa and has played his part in the Midlands outfit earning promotion from the Championship, consolidating in the Premier League and pushing for a top-half finish. Villa thanked O’Kelly for his contributions over the last three years and said they wish him well.
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