Rumours suggest Nottingham Forest are set to appoint Billy Davies as manager and he has targeted long time friend and assistant Kelly as his first acquisition.
The 47-year-old, Birmingham born, former Republic of Ireland International began his playing career at Walsall in 1983, and made over 150 club appearances scoring more than sixty goals for the Saddlers, including a hat-trick in the crucial 1987/88 final play-off game against Bristol City which clinched promotion. After five years at Fellows Park Kelly was snapped up by West Ham United for a fee of around £600,000.
Kelly went on to make over 600 professional appearances scoring nearly 200 goal in the process and after calling time on an illustrious career that also saw him turn out for Leicester City, Newcastle United, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Tranmere Rovers, Sheffield United and Motherwell, amongst others, Ned became a coach.
He has gained plenty of coaching experience with Sheffield United, Preston North End, Derby County and Nottingham Forest, where he also worked as an assistant manager for Billy Davies.
Kelly had penned a deal until the end of the season, and The Saddlers will be entitled to compensation.