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I thought chairing Sussex Cricket would mean a quiet off-season. I was wrong
Ed Warner says his first autumn as chair of Sussex Cricket has brought a heavier workload than expected, as the club prepares for next season after the County Championship ends. The period matters because counties must make leadership and squad changes, renew funding and plan their finances, while the sport faces uncertainty over future broadcast income.
Sussex has appointed Matt Walker as men’s head coach, Beth Barrett-Wild as CEO and five new directors, and expects to announce a director of cricket, player signings and a new club president. The club is also under ECB “special measures” following past financial and governance failures. Across counties, planning is shaped by the next UK and international television rights deals, whose value is expected to be flat at best and could fall, affecting cricket finances more widely.
In short
- Sussex Cricket’s chair says the off-season has brought a surge of work.
- The club has appointed a new CEO, head coach and five directors.
- Future television rights income could be flat or fall.
Explained simply
County cricket clubs use the autumn to prepare for the next season, making decisions about coaches, players, senior staff and budgets. They also rely on income from broadcasting, so the value of future television deals can affect how much money is available across the game.
Sussex Cricket is one of England’s county clubs. It is under special measures imposed by the England and Wales Cricket Board after earlier financial and governance problems, and is changing its leadership as it plans ahead.
The club’s new appointments include men’s head coach Matt Walker and chief executive Beth Barrett-Wild, alongside five new directors. Sussex is also expected to name a director of cricket, announce player signings and appoint a club president.
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