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Sussex reveal debts

Friday, February 27 2004

Sussex County Cricket Club have revealed the cost of success with a lost of £367,454 for 2003 - their maiden County Championship title win in the club's 164 year history. It could of been worse however, if they hadn't won the title, the debts could of exceeded half a million pounds.

Player wage increases from £215,000 to £1.4 million are the main reasons for the lose. This is largely from paying bonuses as a result of the clubs success."Sussex have an inherited contractual liability to match prize money paid to the players," chairman David Green explained. "This makes winning of any competition an expensive hobby - particularly the championship, as other counties have found to their cost in the past."

There is some good news for Sussex, they have been comforted by a gift of almost £7 million bequeathed to them from in the will of Spen Carma - their former president.

Sussex are not alone in this matter. Yorkshire's 2001 title cost them financially - they revealed massive losses in the same year, were relegated the following season. Even Surrey, described as the Manchester United of domestic cricket, discovered that signing big name players to maintain success was unsustainable and have been forced to make cuts to balance the books.



Posted by Craig