Welsh, who used to be the regular set-piece taker for the Glovers, and so leads the way for Town in the assists column in their last two seasons with ten in each campaign, has signed a two-year contract with the Cumbrians this afternoon. Diminutive Manchester-born winger Welsh also weighing in with 15 goals in a total of 278 Football League games since he made his debut for Stockport County back in October 2001, Welsh bar a month-long spell at Macclesfield Town in September 2002, remaining at Edgeley Park until November 2004 when he joined then Championship side Sunderland for £15,000 following a trial spell with the Black Cats.
Welsh got into the first eleven at the Stadium of Light two months later but only went on to make 17 starts and 8 substitute appearances in almost three seasons for the Wearsiders who in 2005 were promoted into the then Premiership. Welsh however spending a couple of separate short loan spells at Leicester City in his time with Sunderland. It was much further afield for the winger in March 2007 though when Major League Soccer club Toronto FC took over his contract from the Black Cats. Welsh was in out of the Canadian team however and returned to England at the end of August 2007 when he signed for Blackpool on a one-year deal with the option of a further 12-month contract.
That extended deal never came to fruition however as Welsh was released by the Seasiders at the end of the 2007-08 season, with the winger then going on to sign for Yeovil Town in September 2008 on a one-year deal following a trial spell at Huish Park. Welsh then penned a further two-year contract that kept him in Somerset until the end of the current campaign. The 27-year old making a total of 88 starts and 32 substitute appearances, while scoring 7 goals in his three seasons with the Glovers.
Welsh was informed that he would be offered a new contract at Huish Park by Yeovil boss Terry Skiverton but it would seem the Blackpool-born player, who has featured for Scotland at under-19 level, has decided it's time for a new challenge much closer to home. The left-winger, who is the first signing of the summer for the Cumbrians now seemingly Carlisle's first choice player in that position with Matty Robson now looking all over a left-back, although where Welsh would fit into a diamond formation remains to be seen.