Ireland goalkeeping coach left the team due to Covid-19 precautions

The previous Ireland goalie, who held his job when Kenny supplanted Mick McCarthy in charge a year ago, has referred to the progressing Covid-19 widespread as his reason behind leaving. 

His takeoff comes only days after mentor Damien Duff reported he also left the staff in front of the

World Cup qualifying

action. 

"Alan called to inform me of his decision and I have accepted it. I want to thank him for his time as goalkeeper coach with me and for his overall contribution to Irish football." Kenny said.

Asthma

victim Kelly, who presented Ireland international shirt 34 times, selected not to go with Ireland team after November's friendly match against England at Wembley in the midst of worries over positive Coronavirus tests inside the camp. 

Announcing his choice to stand down, he said:

"With Covid-19 still viciously circulating in our communities, it is with a heavy heart that I have decided the time is right to step down from my role with the Republic of Ireland senior international team and pass on a fantastic group of goalkeepers to a new goalkeeping coach for the upcoming World Cup qualifying campaign.

"It has been an absolute honour and a privilege to represent the Republic of Ireland as a player and coach for the last 28 years. A special thank you goes out to all the Irish international goalkeepers I have played alongside and had the good fortune to coach.

"I would like to thank the FAI and wish Stephen, the staff and all the players the very best of luck in the World Cup qualifiers beginning in March and for the future."

Kelly's takeoff comes in the wake of hypothesis, passionately denied by the 52-year-old mentor that he had protested a video that appeared to the Ireland players top of the game at Wembley and revealed the occurrence to the Football Association of Ireland.

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