Sussex head coach Paul Farbrace has opened up on the brutal cost-cutting measures placed on the club, admitting the playing staff risks being so threadbare next summer some coaches may be forced to take the field, adding: “If we can cling on to staying in Division One of the County Championship next year it’d be one of the greatest sporting stories ever.”
The county need to cut around £400,000 from their £2m cricketing budget by the start of next season as part of a strict three-year financial plan from the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) after Sussex were put in special measures in January.
It followed a £1.3m loss for the last financial year that forced the ECB to step in with an emergency loan.
As well as the strict financial parameters laid out by the ECB, Sussex were deducted 12 points for this season’s County Championship, plus one each in the T20 Blast and One-Day Cup.
Despite all that they are fifth in Division One of the Championship, 11 points off leaders and defending champions Nottinghamshire. Without the points deduction, they would be top.
