Sussex skipper Chris Adams is poised to quit Sussex and make a shock move to Yorkshire.
Adams, 36, is being lined-up for a newly-created role combining captaincy and team management at Headingley.
Yorkshire have had to make an official approach because he is still under contract but the deal is expected to be finalised within a fortnight.
continued...
Adams is attracted by the security of a long contract, believed to be three years, and is excited by the potential of developing a management role at Headingley.
His current Sussex contract runs out at the end of 2007 and the club say they have offered him improved terms, although chairman David Green would not confirm the length of the new deal.
Adams refused to comment, except to say: "I have one year left on my contract and I am waiting for the club to make me a new offer."
The sensational news that the most successful captain in their history is about to leave will stun Sussex supporters, with whom he has proved extremely popular.
It comes just five weeks after Adams guided the county to their second Championship in four seasons.
Adams has led Sussex to six trophies in nine seasons since joining from Derbyshire in 1997 and yesterday he was at Buckingham Palace with the squad to officially receive the Championship trophy from the Duke of Edinburgh.
Yorkshire chief executive Stewart Regan refused to say Adams was their target to succeed Craig White, who resigned at the end of the season, although he did confirm an appointment was imminent.
He said: "We're at the legal stage at the moment in terms of the captaincy situation and it's a question of dotting the i's and crossing the t's.
"The best teams are built around a strong captain and that's what we're looking to create at Yorkshire."
The loss of Adams, who was born two miles from the Yorkshire border in north Derbyshire, is a massive blow for Sussex.
As recently as August, Adams expressed his desire to lead the county for a tenth season in 2007 and believes he can continue playing until he is 40.
But he has made no secret of his desire to eventually move into a management role. He was interviewed for the chief executive vacancy in the summer but that job went to Gus Mackay.
Earlier this month cricket manager Mark Robinson re-iterated Sussex wanted to keep the most successful side in their history together but admitted they could not compete financially with some of their rivals, particularly counties like Yorkshire whose revenue is boosted by staging international cricket.
He said: "We want the likes of Adams, Mushtaq, Rana and Goodwin to play for Sussex as long as they can. What I can't do is bankrupt the club. Everyone has their price. Big players come and go at every club but life goes on."
Adams, 36, is being lined-up for a newly-created role combining captaincy and team management at Headingley.
Yorkshire have had to make an official approach because he is still under contract but the deal is expected to be finalised within a fortnight.
continued...
Adams is attracted by the security of a long contract, believed to be three years, and is excited by the potential of developing a management role at Headingley.
His current Sussex contract runs out at the end of 2007 and the club say they have offered him improved terms, although chairman David Green would not confirm the length of the new deal.
Adams refused to comment, except to say: "I have one year left on my contract and I am waiting for the club to make me a new offer."
The sensational news that the most successful captain in their history is about to leave will stun Sussex supporters, with whom he has proved extremely popular.
It comes just five weeks after Adams guided the county to their second Championship in four seasons.
Adams has led Sussex to six trophies in nine seasons since joining from Derbyshire in 1997 and yesterday he was at Buckingham Palace with the squad to officially receive the Championship trophy from the Duke of Edinburgh.
Yorkshire chief executive Stewart Regan refused to say Adams was their target to succeed Craig White, who resigned at the end of the season, although he did confirm an appointment was imminent.
He said: "We're at the legal stage at the moment in terms of the captaincy situation and it's a question of dotting the i's and crossing the t's.
"The best teams are built around a strong captain and that's what we're looking to create at Yorkshire."
The loss of Adams, who was born two miles from the Yorkshire border in north Derbyshire, is a massive blow for Sussex.
As recently as August, Adams expressed his desire to lead the county for a tenth season in 2007 and believes he can continue playing until he is 40.
But he has made no secret of his desire to eventually move into a management role. He was interviewed for the chief executive vacancy in the summer but that job went to Gus Mackay.
Earlier this month cricket manager Mark Robinson re-iterated Sussex wanted to keep the most successful side in their history together but admitted they could not compete financially with some of their rivals, particularly counties like Yorkshire whose revenue is boosted by staging international cricket.
He said: "We want the likes of Adams, Mushtaq, Rana and Goodwin to play for Sussex as long as they can. What I can't do is bankrupt the club. Everyone has their price. Big players come and go at every club but life goes on."
