Will Sussex look internally for their next head coach?

The timing seemed odd – and we will come to that later – but anyone who has kept even half an eye on what’s been happening at the club in the last few weeks will not be surprised.

As well as being a fine coach, Farbrace is also an excellent communicator and during every interview since the extent of Sussex’s financial plight became known in early January he has dropped heavy hints that his fourth year at Sussex would be his last. The five-year plan which became the four-year plan; an admittance that he is one of – if not the highest – paid employee of the club and therefore might be unaffordable.

When I asked him last week if there was a scenario in which he would stay, he spoke about taking on the challenge of putting together a new group of players. But that always seemed unlikely, especially as the next rebuilding job will be infinitely more challenging than the one he has undertaken over the last three years and assembled Sussex’s best squad for years.