Sussex sport on the march
Sussex Sharks sit atop their Southern Division Vitality Blast whilst the County Club top the second division of the Championship.
Over last weekend the Sharks won away at the Oval over “moneybags” Surrey and then beat up Gloucestershire in Bristol. The County side have beaten Yorkshire, Gloucestershire and Derbyshire, lost to Glamorgan and drawn with both Northamptonshire at home and Middlesex at Lords.
Last season some ex-players were vocal in their criticism of the club performance on and off the pitch so I’m most happy for chairman Jon Filby, who took the flak with grace – those that know him appreciate his love of Sussex and his dedication to their success and welfare.
Tough decisions had to be made as the first team was in effect dismantled, losing starlets Phil Salt and Ali Orr.
Rob Andrew left for a senior position at the ECB.
However, he had masterminded the successful (Tate Residences) ground development so – unlike many counties whose grounds do not enjoy test status and Yorkshire who do – we enjoy both success on the field and solvency off it.
It also means that Sussex do not have to genuflect before the ECB for hand-outs and The Hundred sweeteners.
Meanwhile Brighton HAFC are close to appointing Fabian Hurzler, the 31 old coach from St Pauli from the Bundesliga.
Many a slip between cup and lip – and still some negotiation with St Pauli plus some bureaucracy with the Bundesliga to overcome – before the deal is done, though a work visa has been obtained.
I have a regular lunch with five highly intelligent fervent Brighton fans, one of whom observed: “It’s quite likely we don’t even know the next manager.”
He was proved right.