Welch chases Derbyshire role

Graeme Welch, who missed out on the Warwickshire director of cricket role last year, is among the favourites to become Derbyshire's new elite cricket performance director.

Welch finished his playing career at Derbyshire and is bound to be a strong candidate as the county restructure their coaching staff following their immediate relegation last season back to Division Two of the LV= Championship.

When Ashley Giles was appointed as England's limited-overs coach last winter, Warwickshire were torn between two internal candidates - Welch, the bowling coach, and the man they eventually plumped for: Dougie Brown.

Welch has strong ties with Warwickshire. He began his career at Edgbaston and has built a reputation as one of the most successful bowling coaches in the country, but he is eager to test himself in the top job. But Derbyshire carry a considerable pull for him, too: he was captain in 2006 and won a benefit there a year later.

"It is no secret I applied to be Warwickshire's director of cricket last winter and didn't get the job," Welch told the Birmingham Mail. "I am still keen to develop my career with an overall coaching job so am interested in the post at Derby.

"Who knows whether I will get it and, if I don't, my commitment to the Bears will remain as total as ever. I love working with the players here and hope they and the team go from strength to strength.

"But, as I said at the time, I was very disappointed not to get the director of cricket job at Edgbaston and, like anyone, I am keen to keep building my career and taking on new challenges."