Middlesbrough have confirmed the departure of assistant manager Robbie Keane. 

The SkyBet Championship side say the decision to leave is Keane's, and follows the appointment of Neil Warnock as manager.

The 71-year old has reversed his decision to retire following Boro's sacking of Jonathan Woodgate on Tuesday.

Keane was named assistant to his former Leeds team-mate when Woodgate took up the reins at the Riverside in June of 2019.

Warnock will instead be assisted by his former Cardiff City lieutenants, Ronnie Jepson and Kevin Blackwell.

Ex-Leeds manager Blackwell also worked under Warnock at Sheffield United.

Middlesbrough sit fourth-from-bottom in the Championship table having won just one game since New Year's Day.

Saturday's 3-0 defeat at home to Swansea City proved to be the final hurrah for the Woodgate/Keane tandem.

It's the second time this year that the appointment of a new manager has led to Keane's departure as an assistant.

The Republic of Ireland's record goalscorer had worked under Mick McCarthy but found himself surplus to requirements following Stephen Kenny's promotion.

Middlesbrough met Keane's departure by saying, "The Irishman’s contract was due to expire at the end of the current season and with Neil Warnock bringing in his own coaches, Robbie has decided to leave the club with immediate effect.

"The club would like to place on record its thanks to Robbie for all his hard work and wish him well for his future in coaching and management."

Warnock took Boro training on Tuesday morning ahead of Saturday's trip to Michael O'Neill's Stoke City.

The former Notts. County, Plymouth, Oldham, Bury, Crystal Palace, QPR, Rotherham, Scarborough, Huddersfield and Torquay manager had previously vowed that the 2018-19 season with Cardiff would be his last as a manager.