Roy Keane has left Nottingham Forest after just five months in the assistant manager’s job, the Championship side has confirmed.

Keane, who began his playing career in England at the City Ground before joining Manchester United for a then British record transfer fee, was second in command to Martin O’Neill. The pair had previously worked together with Republic of Ireland.

“Nottingham Forest can confirm that assistant manager Roy Keane has left the club,” said a statement from the club. “Everyone at the club would like to wish Roy the very best in the next stage of his career.”

The Cork-native was last in charge at Ipswich Town, but he was fired in January 2011 as the club languished just above the Championship relegation zone.

He had previously guided Sunderland out of the Championship at the first attempt before eventually leaving the Stadium of Light. He has also worked as assistant to Paul Lambert at Aston Villa before joining former Forest winger and European Cup winner O’Neill in a triumphant return to Nottingham this year.

The partnership has ended, with Keane paying tribute for the former Leicester, Celtic, Aston Villa and Sunderland boss.

“Working with Martin over the last few years has been a magnificent experience, one of my greatest in football both as a player and a coach and one I want to personally thank him for,” Keane said in a statement released by the club.

Forest are 21.00 to win the Championship title next season and 6.00 to be promoted to the Premier League.