Hove changes on hold

Cricket

Robin Marlar, the new Sussex chairman, has announced that the present committee have put on hold plans to redevelop the County Ground at Hove.

The old committee, ousted at a dramatic annual general meeting last week, were preparing to submit proposals to the Sports Council for National Lottery funding to help with the first phase of the redevelopment, at the north end of the ground.

However, the new committee, comprising Marlar, the former Sussex captain, the former Sussex bolwer Tony Pigott, Jim May and Dick Holste have decided on a re-think. "We have taken this move for several reasons. We don't understand the redevelopment scheme and the penalty for not getting it right is severe because we cannot then resubmit for National Lottery funds for 12 months," Marlar said. "We also want to get into discussions with the new local authority about the whole subject as soon as possible."

Sussex have already won planning permission for the transformation of their Hove headquarters and their plans included a four-storey pavilion and multi-purpose sports hall at the northern end and improvements to the east side.

Sussex's new regime want to introduce effective management to increase their chances of National Lottery funding. They aim to transform Hove into a stage for one-day internationals and so raise the revenue from the English Cricket Board.

Following the all-change, nomination papers will be sent out shortly for the six committee places still vacant.