New Assistant Manager for Reading FC
Rob Kelly has joined the Royals
Reading Football Club has announced the appointment of Rob Kelly, as the club’s new First Team Assistant Manager.
Kelly joins the Royals from Barrow AFC, where he most recently served as Assistant Manager, and he reunites with Leam Richardson, having previously worked alongside the Reading boss during their time together at Wigan Athletic.
A vastly experienced figure within English and European football, Kelly’s career has spanned four decades across both playing and coaching roles.
After beginning his professional career at Leicester City – where he made his debut as a teenager – Kelly represented Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tranmere Rovers before injury curtailed his playing days at just 24.
He quickly transitioned into coaching, taking up youth development roles at Wolves, Watford and Blackburn Rovers before moving into senior football. Over the years, Kelly has held assistant and caretaker managerial positions with a number of clubs including Leicester City, Preston North End, Sheffield Wednesday, Nottingham Forest, West Bromwich Albion, Leeds United, Fleetwood Town, Bury, Wigan Athletic and Barrow.
Alongside his extensive experience in English football, Kelly has also worked abroad, enjoying spells as Assistant Manager with Malmö FF in Sweden, Fortuna Düsseldorf in Germany, and most recently AGF Aarhus in Denmark.
During his time in the dugout, Kelly has guided teams through promotions, play-off pushes and top-flight survival battles, and he was named the Championship Manager of the Month in March 2006 during his spell in charge of Leicester City.
His reunion with Leam Richardson marks another chapter in a successful partnership that previously delivered silverware, with the pair celebrating promotion to the Championship as League One champions with Wigan Athletic in 2021–22.
Rob will now form part of Reading’s senior coaching staff as preparations continue for the upcoming fixtures in Sky Bet League One.