Adams 'very excited' as he takes over at Surrey

After the ignominy of relegation from the First Division of the County Championship without having recorded a single victory last season, Surrey have turned to Chris Adams, the former Sussex captain, in a bit to revive their fortunes.

Adams, who led Sussex for 11 years before stepping down at the end of last season, has been released from the final year of his playing contract at Hove to take up the role as Surrey's new cricket manager. He will have responsibility for all aspects of professional cricket at The Oval, with the county having revamped their management structure following relegation.

Adams, 38, said: "I am delighted to take this challenge. I have been looking for this kind of role for a while. It brings 21 years as a player to an end, which is sad, but this is too big a challenge to turn down. I am very excited. I had 11 fantastic years at Sussex. Sussex is in my blood – it always will be – but everything has to come to an end."

Adams follows former Sussex chief executive and current managing director at Surrey Gus Mackay to south London. Adams initially applied, unsuccessfully, for Mackay's old post at Hove and was also linked with jobs at Hampshire and Lancashire.

Surrey will be hoping Adams can work the same sort of magic with them as he did at Sussex, who had more than a century of County Championship mediocrity behind them when he took charge in 1998. He led the county to their first title in 2003, adding further pennants in 2006 and 2007. He bowed out this year by winning the NatWest Pro40 title. The Derbyshire-born batsman caused controversy in 2006 when he accepted the position of director of cricket at Yorkshire, only to have a change of heart and stay on as captain at Sussex.

Adams, whose arrival fills the void left by the departure of coach Alan Butcher, will be joined at The Oval by former Surrey and England batsman Graham Thorpe as a specialist batting coach. Adams insists he is focused on the long-term. He said: "I am not promising a quick-fix. What I am offering is long-term stability and putting in place a culture change. It is not about getting promotion next year and having a couple of years of success – this is about a 10-year programme at least."