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.
Paul Farbrace will stand down at the end of the season (Photo: Getty)But the need to cut costs has already seen the club tell eight players whose contracts are up at the end of the summer that they will be released.
Three more – Fynn Hudson-Prentice (Hampshire), Tom Alsop (Gloucestershire) and Henry Crocombe (Surrey) – have already agreed deals with other counties.
The club, who have seven players at The Hundred and seven out injured right now, are already light on numbers.
Yet with just 12 players signed so far for next year’s Championship, there are genuine fears coaching staff might be forced to take the field next summer if Sussex suffer injuries.
“We only have 13 available players at the moment,” Farbrace said.
“It’s a sign of where we’re going to be next year because of our financial situation. We have 12 players signed to play the Championship next year and 14 for the Blast. We’re losing eight of our professional staff through having to release them because of finance.
“We’ve already lost players. We’re not having overseas players next year at the moment. So our staff are being absolutely ripped to shreds.”
Henry Crocombe will join Surrey ahead of the 2027 campaign (Photo: Getty)Farbrace will stand down at the end of the summer, with Matt Walker taking over.
The former England assistant coach will stay on as director of cricket in a part-time role to help the new man navigate the many challenges 2027 will bring.
“It’s why I didn’t walk away like I was planning to because I didn’t feel I could leave the club in the shit situation we’re in,” he said.
“I want to try and help the club, the players and Matt actually be as competitive as we can be next year and hope that the following year we can actually start adding to our staff again.
“But our restrictions are so tight that we’re literally down to bare bones. We get a couple of injuries then I’ll be looking at the coaches putting their boots on and playing. We really will be that short.
“The members are disappointed the likes of Henry Crocombe are leaving, I’m disappointed. I would have loved Crocombe, Alsop, Hudson-Prentice all to have stayed. But we have got a squad at the moment capable of challenging and we’re proving that in the County Championship. We’re right up there, without our points deduction we would be top with a very, very small squad.
“But for our squad being ripped apart at the end of the season we would be right up there challenging again next year to win the County Championship. As it is, if we can cling on to staying in Division One next year it’ll be an unbelievable effort – it’d be one of the greatest sporting stories ever.”
Sussex have signed all-rounder Joey Evison for next summer on a three-year deal from Kent.
But with every new signing having to be approved by the ECB, there will be minimal other incomings.
“It’ll be young players and we’ll be going into the loan market just trying to get an XI together for each game basically,” Farbrace said.
“It’s going to be ridiculously difficult. I fear some games, if we have a few injuries, what sort of XI we’ll be putting out. At the end of next season, hopefully we’ll be able to recruit three or four players who give us a chance of being competitive again.”
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Analysis: All the signs Ben Stokes will make a fairytale Ashes return Ollie Robinson interview: Bazball was so fun – but England need to win gamesAs for this year’s Championship, Farbrace has not given up hope of a miraculous title win despite that points deduction.
Their campaign resumes on 20 August against Warwickshire at Edgbaston, with further away games at Essex and Hampshire next month.
With their three remaining home matches against Somerset, Surrey and Nottinghamshire, they have a good chance of being in the title mix until the end of the season.
“We’re in a good position,” Farbrace said. “With six games to go, we’ve already got four wins which is absolutely brilliant.
“If we win another three we’re not going to be too far off. So there’s much to look forward to. We’ve got huge games to play and that’s where you want to be.”
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