Good post. No comparison.
[Cricket] Sussex CCC - 2023 Season Edition
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Moshe Gariani
Well-known member
- Mar 10, 2005
- 12,227
Well said. The current board have made some very good appointments and reorganisations of existing staff. Paul Farbrace as Head Coach was an excellent recruitment of a proven high quality and experienced practitioner. Shifting Keith Greenfield from his over-promoted director role back into his strength area focused on youth and club development was also an overdue and good move made by the current board. There are many other achievements in the wider club that reflect skill and professionalism of the current leadership.
"Not risking the long term financial viability of the club" is the rather important factor that people conveniently forget when asking why Sussex have not been able to retain a large squad of highly paid professional players capable of challenging in Division One and when those same people allege gross incompetence, rather than pragmatism, on the part of key decision makers.
People who either don't understand, or have an axe to grind, can focus exclusively on player signings and contract dealings that didn't work out well but how fair is that? What about all the many successes in player development, rehabilitation and recruitment, as well as coach and support staff development/successes, that should provide balance?
The reality is that Sussex face a near impossible task to sustain a high quality and competitive playing staff in the current cricket landscape. They don't have a multi-million pound inheritance windfall to give them the highest playing budget in the country and the ability to sign and retain the most sought after players. This is what was mainly responsible for the glory years - not, being realistic rather than fantastic, the Chairman, Chief Exec, Head Coach, Academy Director, or Gateman, however good those people were.
The best chance for Sussex is to back Paul Farbrace in his decisions about squad building within his agreed budget. The new Chief Exec will be responsible for managing financial matters and doing whatever is possible to maximise that playing budget going forward. It will not be easy but, as a Sussex supporter, I wish all the people involved well and trust them.
albionalex
Well-known member
Sussex CCC: Ali Orr's Hampshire move defended amidst resignations
Former England and Sussex players Ian Gould and Chris Adams resign citing Ali Orr's move to Hampshire as a "catalyst".
www.bbc.com
Sussex cricket has never been in better shape than it is now (allegedly….)Sussex CCC: Ali Orr's Hampshire move defended amidst resignations
Former England and Sussex players Ian Gould and Chris Adams resign citing Ali Orr's move to Hampshire as a "catalyst".www.bbc.com
Pevenseagull
meh
- Jul 20, 2003
- 20,833
If its never been in a better shape why have we had 5 crap years. Why have membership numbers gone down so much. Were told offices at bottom of new flats were pre let. Obviosly not a binding contract because this fell through and now looking for new tenant.
Pevenseagull
meh
- Jul 20, 2003
- 20,833
Sussex cricket in great shape if defined by number of flats sold.
Papa Lazarou
Living in a De Zerbi wonderland
How much does it cost to run a (competitive) county cricket team these days?
Like all cuntyy developers they get permission based on office space or similar then claim they can’t let the space blaming Brexit/covid etc and slip 4 expensive apartments into the footprint!!
Change at Barnham
Well-known member
I'm 100% behind Paul Farbrace and feel that as a club we are fortunate to have him as our head coach.
The gulf in income between clubs that host mens test matches and those that don't is growing and will be very difficult to close.
In recent years Yorkshire and Durham have almost gone bankrupt and Warwickshire and Hampshire have been bailed out by their local councils to the tune of millions. Meanwhile Sussex have kept their financial house in order.
If the club are able to stay at Hove, remain solvent, challenge for promotion and occasionally get to a final I'll be satisfied.
It's too easy to jump on the bandwagon and expect to pay the wages that other counties with far larger budgets fork out.
Unfortunately (or fortunately) we're not a financial big boy anymore.
Prior and Adams are both legends of Sussex and have earned handsomely from cricket and both want the county to do well, but I'm not convinced about their knowledge of running the finances of a major sporting organisation.
Keep the faith, we have been through several tough years.
#InFarbraceAndFilbyWeTrust.
The gulf in income between clubs that host mens test matches and those that don't is growing and will be very difficult to close.
In recent years Yorkshire and Durham have almost gone bankrupt and Warwickshire and Hampshire have been bailed out by their local councils to the tune of millions. Meanwhile Sussex have kept their financial house in order.
If the club are able to stay at Hove, remain solvent, challenge for promotion and occasionally get to a final I'll be satisfied.
It's too easy to jump on the bandwagon and expect to pay the wages that other counties with far larger budgets fork out.
Unfortunately (or fortunately) we're not a financial big boy anymore.
Prior and Adams are both legends of Sussex and have earned handsomely from cricket and both want the county to do well, but I'm not convinced about their knowledge of running the finances of a major sporting organisation.
Keep the faith, we have been through several tough years.
#InFarbraceAndFilbyWeTrust.
Moshe Gariani
Well-known member
- Mar 10, 2005
- 12,227
I don't know the answer but the main competitions have been dominated for many years by teams with bigger grounds and/or bigger budgets than Sussex. Occasional exceptions of course but the "small" counties, of which Sussex are one, find it almost impossible to be sustainably competitive due to inability to recruit and retain top talent.
It sounds like we could have afforded to keep Ali Orr if Farbrace had wanted it - so presumably there will be budget and plans to replace Orr with a player that Farbrace feels will give more to the desired team success.
It seems very unfortunate to have previously lost players for reasons of limited budget, and/or their understandable ambition to play somewhere bigger, and now to lose Ali Orr when the club/Board had actually planned to keep him... but the model being followed is at least very clear - Paul Farbrace is being backed to continue the improvement he started this year.
What was the Warwickshire bail out about? I go there a fair bit and I know they have got ambitious building plans for the ground and the adjacent area but I hadn’t heard about any bail out from the council (which has no money anyway!)?
Cheshire Cat
The most curious thing..
Most of these posts are speculative nonsense (probably) until Orr says something and/or Sussex provide a statement that is not full of meaningless management babble.
Orr may or may not have wanted a longer term contract and/or more money and/or something else (guaranteed place, captaincy, sponsored push bike, full executive power, journey to Mars whatever).
Sussex may or may not have said yes or no to some or all or of it, especially given recent fitness issues.
There may or may not have been an issue with the role and relationship with the coach.
In the end, Orr decided he had a better offer elsewhere and went - which is a shame as he seemed quite good.
Can you get relegated to the minor counties?
From what I saw on the internet stream last year, several club sides could have outplayed Sussex, given the number of walking wickets they kept selecting, and the generally toothless bowling attack.
I am currently growing several sticks of rhubarb, and am intending to match down the corridor of uncertainty.
Orr may or may not have wanted a longer term contract and/or more money and/or something else (guaranteed place, captaincy, sponsored push bike, full executive power, journey to Mars whatever).
Sussex may or may not have said yes or no to some or all or of it, especially given recent fitness issues.
There may or may not have been an issue with the role and relationship with the coach.
In the end, Orr decided he had a better offer elsewhere and went - which is a shame as he seemed quite good.
Can you get relegated to the minor counties?
From what I saw on the internet stream last year, several club sides could have outplayed Sussex, given the number of walking wickets they kept selecting, and the generally toothless bowling attack.
I am currently growing several sticks of rhubarb, and am intending to match down the corridor of uncertainty.
I’ll back Farbrace and Filby until I feel they aren’t acting in the best long term interests of the club.
What I would like to see if better and more open comms with members and general public.
The ownership of the Hove CG is shrouded in secrecy with anonymous/faceless trustees, beneficiaries, etc and it’s not clear if the (voting) members have any power or say in the big (or little) decisions.
Finances maybe in good shape at present but do we have to sell a corner of the CG every 5 years to survive. Them what when the other 3 corners have gone??
It all seems a bit of a mess with ex players sniping on social media
What I would like to see if better and more open comms with members and general public.
The ownership of the Hove CG is shrouded in secrecy with anonymous/faceless trustees, beneficiaries, etc and it’s not clear if the (voting) members have any power or say in the big (or little) decisions.
Finances maybe in good shape at present but do we have to sell a corner of the CG every 5 years to survive. Them what when the other 3 corners have gone??
It all seems a bit of a mess with ex players sniping on social media
Papa Lazarou
Living in a De Zerbi wonderland
The reason I asked that specific question was around external funding for cricket. I assume there aren't FFP equivalent regulations covering county cricket, so if someone like Tony Bloom, or actual Tony Bloom decided to invest into Sussex, maybe even including a new test capable ground somewhere in the county, it would be possible.
Without a new ground, it would still be feasible to support Sussex if you're an interested Billionaire.
Imagine a partnership between the Albion and Sussex, with the new country ground across the road from the Amex or co-located with the women's new ground somewhere convenient.
Change at Barnham
Well-known member
Cricinfo finance article from 2017
Warwicks took on a £32million redevelopment project that made them wobble somewhat, but they seem to have navigated through some choppy waters with the help of Ashes test matches and T20 Finals days. It would have sunk many smaller counties.
Change at Barnham
Well-known member
Which is what Hampshire did when they agreed to end being a members club and handed over the keys to Rod Bransgrove.
Bransgrove pushed through the ground development project and today Hampshire have a great facility and will be hosting an Ashes test match in 2027.
However due to mounting debts Hampshire were forced to sell the Rose Bowl to Eastleigh Borough Council.
Hamphire CCC sell Rose Bowl to Eastleigh Borough council
Eastleigh Borough Council finances inquiry ordered by government
Without a bailout they too could have come close to going under, and were under severe stress like Durham were and Yorkshire are currently.
Mike Ashley is rumoured to want to buy Headingley.
Tony Bloom, I would trust. Mike Ashley, no thanks.
And if we rolled the dice and then needed a bail out from Brighton Council what would our chances be of them saving us?
It's so easy to spend money, but very hard to recover from large debts.
There are plenty of football, rugby and cricket clubs who have become unstuck.
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Isn't that loan from Birmingham Council the reason why their T20 team is called Birmingham rather than Warwickshire?
I don't think anybody straight up admits that, but my understanding is the council "nicely" asked Warwickshire to change the name while simultaneously waving the loan agreement in their faces.
There were certainly some low points, but that ‘outplayed’ side actually lost ONCE in 14 CC matches this summer, and finished THIRD in the Div 2 table. It was a huge improvement on 2022, and higher expectations would be pretty unrealistic IMO.
LV= County Championship - Division Two Table - Cricket - BBC Sport
Find out which cricket teams are leading the pack or at the foot of the table in the LV= County Championship - Division Two on BBC Sport
www.bbc.co.uk