Bears announce return of club favourite as bowling coach

The 53-year-old former Bears player is returning to Edgbaston for a third stint in the role, four years after leaving for Hampshire.

Welch, affectionately known as “Pop”, has developed a reputation as one of the finest bowling coaches in the country and was on the staff for Warwickshire’s County Championship title wins in 2012 and 2021. 

He will now be tasked with reviving a bowling unit which has struggled in the County Championship the past two years.

The Bears finished with the fewest bowling points of any team in Division One this season. 

Head coach Ian Westwood said: “The squad will benefit hugely from his skillset and experience, especially coming off a successful season Hampshire and his time with England. 

“Our pace bowlers such as (Michael) Booth and Che (Simmons) will have a lot to learn from him.

“Pop has a great track record of improving individuals by bringing the bowling group together and challenging them to develop and perform at their best, whilst honing their individual talents.”

Welch, who replaces the departed Stuart Barnes, won two Championship titles with the Bears in the 1990s and later captained Derbyshire.

First appointed bowling coach in 2010, he first left in 2014 to become Derbyshire’s elite performance director before returning in 2018. Welch also has experience of working in the England set-up.

He will be re-joined at Edgbaston by another familiar face in seamer Keith Barker, who is also making the move back from Hampshire to the Midlands. The Bears have added Nathan Gilchrist from Kent and Jordan Thompson from Yorkshire to their bowling attack for next season. 

Welch said: “Coming back to Warwickshire, my focus is on raising performance levels in the First XI while at the same time developing the young, talented bowlers we’ve got coming through. 

“This club has always meant a lot to me, and I’m excited to contribute to building a bowling group that can succeed now and in the future.”