Sheffield Wednesday can confirm the appointments to the coaching staff of Rob Kelly and Billy Barr with immediate effect.

Assistant manager, Kelly, will serve as number two to new manager, Alan Irvine, while Barr will take the role of first team coach. Both men, who served in their present capacities alongside Irvine at Preston North End, bring a wealth of experience to Hillsborough.

Kelly was a promising midfielder for Leicester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers before injury cut short his career at the age of just 24. He promptly moved into coaching and enjoyed the role of youth team coach, firstly at Wolves before taking the same post at Watford. Kelly then became academy director at Blackburn Rovers, before joining Leicester as assistant manager.

The 45-year-old stepped up to the top job at the Walkers Stadium following the departure of Craig Levein and steered the Foxes away from relegation danger in 2006. Kelly left Leicester in April 2007 and joined Preston the following month as number two to Paul Simpson. When Simpson left Deepdale in November 2007, Kelly began his successful association with Irvine at Preston.

New Owls first team coach Billy Barr began his career as a midfielder with Halifax Town, for whom he gave almost a decade's service. The 40-year-old then linked up with Crewe Alexandra and Carlisle United, before injury too halted his playing career. He moved swiftly into coaching the youth team at Brunton Park and went on to enjoy two separate stints as caretaker manager. He was appointed first team coach following the arrival of Paul Simpson in 2004.

Barr departed Carlisle to work with Simpson when the latter left to take charge of Preston in 2006 and continued in his role of first team coach when Irvine became manager at Deepdale.

Sheffield Wednesday manager, Alan Irvine, said: "I am delighted that Rob and Billy have joined me at Sheffield Wednesday. We have a tried and trusted working relationship and their coaching strengths and experience will be of enormous benefit to this football club."

See the first interviews with Rob Kelly and Billy Barr as part of the SWFC coaching team on Wednesday Player.