After retiring due to injury in 1989, he took up coaching and has served as the assistant manager at Hereford United, Bournemouth, and Doncaster Rovers.

He became a manager for the first time with Hereford United in March 2012 but quit the post two months later after the "Bulls" were relegated out of the Football League.

O'Kelly started his career with Alvechurch before moving into the English Football League with Walsall in 1979 after being signed by manager Alan Buckley.

In July 1986, the cultured striker joined fellow West Midlands and Third Division side Port Vale for a £6,000 fee.

[1] The club won promotion at the end of the 1987 season under Tommy Coakley's stewardship, beating Bristol City 4–0 in the play-off final.

After finishing his playing career, O'Kelly worked as Port Vale's community officer from August 1990 to May 1991 before returning to Blundell Park as a youth team coach.

He spent seven years at The Hawthorns as a youth team coach and then six months at Aston Villa before joining Hereford United in 2002 as assistant manager to Graham Turner.

Under the pair's first full season at Rovers, the club gained promotion into the Championship after winning the League One play-off final in 2008 against Leeds United.

[4] On 5 March 2012, O'Kelly was appointed manager of Hereford United, replacing Jamie Pitman, who stayed on at Edgar Street as a coach.

"[7] He got his first point in charge at the club the following day, when his side squandered a two-goal lead to draw 2–2 with Macclesfield Town at Moss Rose.