A disappointed and angry Kelly confirmed last night he had been dismissed from his post after just four games in the premier competition.
"I'm still upset. It's still pretty raw with me," Kelly said. "I have been fired by a kangaroo court and this should send alarm bells through the club."
Kelly has been replaced by the highly-rated Andy Hunter, the former Kaikorai premier coach, Otago B coach and Balmacewen Intermediate School principal.
The change was confirmed by Taieri chairman Owen Clarke.
"Yes, we have a new coach, but we have decided that we don't want to make any public comment on it," Clarke said when approached by the Otago Daily Times.
Taieri is the second premier club to change its coach this season.
Paddy Stewart left his post at Harbour after an incident in a pre-season game.
The Otago Daily Times understands a group from the Taieri club, including some committee members, met last Sunday and decided to sack Kelly.
The coach was informed of the decision that evening by Clarke.
"I have to stand aside," Kelly said. "I can't go back because it would be unfair to the players.
"The committee expects the team to perform in a professional way on the paddock, but they perform like amateurs off it.
"The club has operated a kangaroo court and this is an indictment on those sitting around the table. A professional attitude was definitely lacking."
Kelly admitted he had some technical deficiencies and relied on help from the resource coaches of the Otago Rugby Football Union.
In its four games so far this season, Taieri has lost to Alhambra-Union, Pirates and Southern but has beaten Green Island.
Kelly's responsibility was with the forwards, but it has been the backline that has let the team down.
Kelly has been a member of the Taieri club for the last 32 years and has also coached school teams.
When Taieri was not able to get a coach last year, he volunteered, and Taieri gained promotion to the top grade when it beat University B in the promotion-relegation game.
"I stepped into the breach and I did it again this year because no-one else applied," Kelly said.
