Jim Troughton underlined his dual objective as Warwickshire head coach: To have the Bears challenging for trophies in the immediate-term but also build foundations for success far into the future.

Troughton was appointed head coach at Edgbaston on Monday as part of an ambitious restructuring of the Bears’ back-room regime which also saw Ashley Giles return to the club in a brand new role of Sport Director.

Giles has taken an overarching brief with strategic responsibility for all men’s and women’s cricket and the young player pathway while Troughton focuses squarely on the first-team.

But Troughton insists that, along with captain Ian Bell, they bring to their different roles many common areas of purpose – including a desire to deliver a platform for sustained success.

“We want to win trophies, of course,” he said. “But it matters very much to myself, Ash and Ian that, while the short-term is very important, so is the future of the club.

“We understand that for us to be successful in the long-term we need a steady stream of youngsters coming through. And that’s where Ash’s role will come in – as he takes responsibility for that, that will allow us to focus on making sure the first-team squad is functioning well.

“The longevity of the club is something that resonates deeply with us, as it does with the senior players here. They care about what happens beyond just themselves and that is wonderful to see.

“It’s great to have Ash back. We had a good experience together as captain and director of cricket and we know and trust each other and have very similar views on how we like our environments to be led and managed.

“The cricket side of things will be my full focus but it will be very valuable to be able to go to Gilo and ask for advice as and when required. It’s a really exciting time for the club to have this new structure in place.”

Troughton is deeply proud to have been named head coach of the club where he has played cricket man and boy. Now he finds himself leading a dressing-room which contains many players alongside whom he lined up for the Bears – but he envisages no problem in completing the transition from team-member to management.

“As a captain there was that element of distance from the rest of the team,” he said. “And then while I was injured for most of the 2013 season and all of 2014 I pretty much moved into the role of being round the players but not in the team. I feel I have got the trust and respect to be able to make decisions as a coach.

“I have already learned a lot in the years since I stopped playing and I will continue to learn. It will be great to have someone to learn from like Ash who has played at the highest level.

“To be appointed head coach means a lot. Everyone knows how much this club means to me. I am very proud but now the hard work begins in the next couple of months as we build up to the new season when we want to challenge in all formats. That is a difficult thing to do but we have managed to achieve it for a number of years now and intend next season to be no different.”

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