Stanley have always been close to my heart

It's a stage of the 29-year-old's football career that he doesn't care to dwell on. He just explains that, at a club he had originally seen himself staying at for the remainder of his career - even though he was just 20 at the time - things had turned sour.

He didn't like the way things were going at the Crown Ground, so he left to join neighbours Clitheroe midway through the 1997/98 season.

He assumed he had taken a one-way ticket out of Livingstone Road. He didn't want to go back, and he didn't think Stanley would want him anyway.

But the Reds' chairman Eric Whalley offered Welch an olive branch ahead of the UniBond transfer deadline day last Monday, and Welch was only to willing to accept it.

"My gut feeling was 'yes'. Definitely. Go for it," he said.

"Accrington have always been close to my heart, but I'd got to a stage where I had to get out of the club.

"That's the kind of person I am. I'm quite head strong and if something is not right I make my decision and do it regardless of the consequences.

"The club I left isn't the club I've come back to. Things are much, much better now all round. They are going places. At the time of me leaving, they weren't going anywhere. But now they've proved me wrong."

But while Welch knew the chance to help lead Stanley to the UniBond Premiership title was one that he would have been a fool to pass up, there was a degree of hesitation before he made the move from Lancaster City on Monday afternoon.

"I had to be sure everything would be forgotten and they would welcome me with open arms. And to be fair, that's exactly how it has been.

"But, to be honest, when I first found out Accrington had made enquiries about me, I thought it was a wind-up.

"Accrington didn't need me and probably didn't want me."

Or so he thought.

While Lutel James and Paul Mullin have been consistent and virtual ever presents all season, manager John Coleman didn't wan to run the risk of going into the final few games without back-up, should the unthinkable happen and either of the Reds' top marksmen pick up an injury.

Welch knew his role on his return to Stanley would be as cover for the front two, and he has accepted that. Not even the prospect of having to look for another club in the summer has deterred him from returning to the club he first signed for, under then manager, now chairman, Eric Whalley back in 1994.

Once he'd had a few moments to mull over John Coleman's offer, it was a wild horses scenario for the likeable former Burnley man.

"I took advice from a few people - a few older heads that I know and my manager at Lancaster, Tony Hesketh," he explained.

"There have been a lot of wage cuts there over the last couple of weeks and I think that might have been a deciding factor to save a bit of money.

"But everyone who I spoke to told me to forget about the past and just take my chance.

"I might only be here for the remaining games, which was something else I had to think about.

"At first I said it was no good if it was only until the end of the season. I wanted something more long term - more concrete. But everyone told me to forget that and I had to go for it.

"Staying next season is a possibility but I don't know what will happen at the moment. I guess a lot depends on the outcome of this season.

"All I can do is play and train well, and weigh things up for myself. If I stay, fantastic. If it doesn't work, then I'll sort myself out."

Welch, who made his second Stanley debut as an 80th minute substitute in the 3-0 win at Blyth Spartans on Tuesday night, described pulling on the red shirt again as "strange, but good!"

He would love nothing more than to see Stanley earn a place in the Conference. And, if he can play his part in that - even better.

However, he insists his recent move is not a case of jumping on the Accrington Stanley bandwagon.

"If I can help them in any way - coming on and creating or scoring a goal - I'd be delighted," he said.

"But the lads in the squad, they are the ones who have got Stanley this far.

"It wouldn't be about Brian Welch. It's about the lads who have done it every week, all season."

And he paid tribute to his new team-mates.

"The centre halves have been solid as a rock," he said.

"I think Smithy (Jonathan Smith) heads it further than I can kick it!

"Jamie Speare is the only player still here from my first spell with Stanley and he's really up for it. All the players are.

"They have got quality all over the park, quality players, and the players do what they're good at and don't try to do anything they can't do. That's why they're top of the league."

And by 5.45pm tomorrow, they could be champions.