---
title: "Shock on social media as Villa confirm departure of O’Kelly"
canonical: "https://readastonvilla.com/2021/08/12/shock-on-social-media-as-aston-villa-confirm-departure-of-richard-okelly/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Crippy Cooke"
section: "Aston Villa News"
published: "2021-08-12T16:13:22Z"
modified: "2021-08-12T16:13:23Z"
---

# Shock on social media as Villa confirm departure of O’Kelly

Aston Villa [confirmed](https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2021/august/Richard-O-Kelly-departs-Aston-Villa/) 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](https://twitter.com/AVFCOfficial/status/1425840655775981576) as many are surprised that an important coach would depart just days prior to their opening Premier League [game](https://www.avfc.co.uk/matches/) 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.

***[In other news, Louie Barry posts on social media after making debut for Ipswich Town](https://readastonvilla.com/2021/08/12/louie-barry-posts-on-social-media-after-making-debut-for-ipswich-town/)***