Reading appoint Barrow's Kelly as assistant boss
Rob Kelly has more than 35 years experience as a coach
- Published
Reading have appointed Rob Kelly as assistant manager after the experienced coach left League Two side Barrow.
The 60-year-old comes in as Leam Richardson's number two after spending the past two months in a similar role at Holker Street.
Kelly worked alongside new Reading boss Richardson when the pair were at Wigan Athletic together and won the League One title in 2022.
Kelly spent a year charge of Leicester City after succeeding Craig Levein in April 2006.
He has gone on to hold coaching positions at a host of clubs including Leeds United, Nottingham Forest, Sheffield Wednesday and West Bromwich Albion.
"It's been an honour and a pleasure to have the opportunity to come back to Barrow for a second time to help the club," Kelly told the Barrow website.
"It's with a heavy heart that I am once again leaving the football club for another challenge elsewhere.
Richardson was appointed last week after Noel Hunt was sacked with the Royals 19th in League One.
The former Wigan and Rotherham boss saw his new side lose his first game in charge when they were beaten 3-2 at home to non-league Carlisle United in the FA Cup.
The Royals conceded two stoppage-time goals to surrender a 2-0 lead before conceding a third in extra time.