Former Wycombe Wanderers defender Richard Keogh has been appointed the interim manager of League One rivals Blackpool.

The 37-year-old, who hung up his boots at the end of the 2023/24 season, had only been appointed as first-team coach in July.

But following the recent sacking of Neil Critchley on August 22, the ex-Chairboy will manage the former Premier League team until a new permanent boss has been selected.

If one is not found by August 31, there is a possibility that Keogh could be in charge for when Wycombe arrive at Bloomfield Road at the end of the month.

He was the first official signing of the Matt Bloomfield era last summer, where he played 25 times across all competitions. 

However, he departed Adams Park just six months into his contract, after not being guaranteed regular first-team football for the latter half of the campaign.

He would then join Forest Green Rovers of League Two, but suffered relegation with the West Country club to National League.

Keogh is also one of the many players to have had two spells with Wycombe, as he had a brief stint with Wanderers 20 seasons ago on loan from Bristol City.

The ex English-born Republic of Ireland centre back played three times for the club in November 2005. 

In a brief statement on the club’s website that was published on August 21, Owner Simon Sadler said: “Neil’s dedication, commitment and tireless work ethic have been a real credit to the cub. 

“Despite his best efforts over the past 12 months, there have been a number of disappointing results and performances which means that a change is needed to give the club every possible chance of competing at the top end of the division this season.

“I will always be thankful for Neil’s wonderful efforts in guiding the Club to promotion to the Championship in 2021, and then comfortably keeping us in the division the following season. 
“I and all at the Club wish Neil and Mike the very best for the future.”

As well as two spells with Wycombe, he is best known for spending seven years at Derby County where he played over 300 games, where he also featured in two Championship play-off finals for the Rams, both lost on both occasions.

The first was in 2014 when his error in final minute of the fixture led to Bobby Zamora’s last-gasp winner, in a 1-0 victory for QPR, before being on the losing side once more five years later.

In the latter, he played the full 90 minutes as Derby were defeated 2-1 by Aston Villa in the Wembley showpiece.

He also had stints with Huddersfield Town, Carlisle United, Cheltenham Town, Coventry City, Milton Keynes, Blackpool and Ipswich Town. 

Internationally, he featured 26 times for Ireland, scoring once.

Keogh was also part of the country’s Euro 2016 squad when they reached the round of 16, losing to the host national and runners up, France.