McDonagh confirmed as Alan Kelly's replacement

MARTIN O'Neill has described as 'extremely difficult' the phone call he made to Alan Kelly informing him that he was replacing him as the Republic of Ireland's goalkeeping coach.

New manager O'Neill has confirmed that Seamus McDonagh will now take up the position.

McDonagh won 25 Ireland caps between 1981 and 1985 and is a trusted ally of O'Neill having been his goalkeeping coach during his spells at Leicester City, Aston Villa and Sunderland. 

McDonagh will get to work with the goalkeepers on Monday in Malahide ahead of the up-coming friendlies against Latvia and Poland. 

Kelly, who won 34 Irish caps, was the goalkeeping coach under Steve Staunton and Giovanni Trapattoni.

“I spoke to Alan in with what was obviously an extremely difficult phone call to have to make,” said O’Neill.

“I told Alan that I will go and meet him after the upcoming international games to talk to him and tap into his experience.”

Football Association of Ireland Chief Executive John Delaney paid tribute to Kelly's services.

“I very much hope that he can remain involved in Irish football in some capacity," he said. 

"I thank him wholeheartedly for his contribution as a player and as a coach. His family has a long proud history of involvement with the Ireland team and it is right that is acknowledged and respected.”

Next week, O'Neill will take the coaching of the team and there will be no additions to the backroom team ahead of the friendlies.

However, it is expected that Steve Walford, Steve Guppy and Mike McGurn will be added to a ticket that now contains O'Neill, Roy Keane and McDonagh.

Kelly, meanwhile, has reflected on his twenty-five year association with the Republic of Ireland.

“The insight, knowledge and practical experience I have gained over the last eight years as a member of the senior management team, working alongside world renowned coaches, has given me an invaluable coaching education at the highest possible level," he said.

“I would like to wish the Martin, Roy and all the squad the very best of luck for the future."

 O'Neill will be unveiled to the Irish media tomorrow at a press conference at Dublin's Giibson Hotel.