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Coaching changes are common across the EFL, especially in League Two where clubs regularly reshape their backroom staff to improve results and long-term development. Barrow AFC are no different.
Sitting in a competitive division where progress often depends on structure rather than spending power, the club has moved quickly to support its new head coach with experienced support. League Two places heavy demands on coaching staff.
Matches are physical, squads are stretched, and younger players are often asked to develop quickly. Clubs increasingly look for coaches with academy backgrounds and experience in promotion environments.
Barrow’s latest appointment follows that approach, with an emphasis on player development and familiarity in the dugout. The move also reflects a wider trend in English football, where former top-flight and European-experienced players are building coaching careers in the lower leagues. That background is seen as valuable when guiding players through the pressures of a long season.
Barrow AFC have officially confirmed that John Welsh has been appointed as Assistant Head Coach, working under newly-named First Team Head Coach Paul Gallagher. Welsh leaves his role as Lead Senior Professional Development Phase U21 coach at Preston North End to take up the position at Holker Street.
A Wavertree-born midfielder, Welsh joined Liverpool at the age of 10 and progressed through the academy to captain the reserve side. He trained with the first-team squad at Melwood during the 2001–02 season and made his senior debut in December 2002 against Ipswich Town in the League Cup.
He later made his Premier League debut against Arsenal and featured in Liverpool’s 2005 Champions League campaign, including an appearance against Bayer Leverkusen, although he was not named in the final squad.
After his playing career, Welsh returned to Preston North End in a coaching capacity in 2021. He worked across the academy system, helping guide youth teams to domestic cup success and earning a promotion to Lead PDP U21 coach in September. He now reunites with a former teammate at Barrow as the club looks to climb the Sky Bet League Two table.
Read more: The Times report Liverpool are planning contract talks with midfielder
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