Sussex: Paul Farbrace 'so proud' as Sussex finish third in County Championship despite financial struggles

Outgoing Sussex head coach Paul Farbrace is "so proud" of the team after finishing third in the County Championship despite a season of financial turmoil.

The club were handed a 12-point deduction before the 2026 Championship campaign following losses of £1.3m in 2025.

They went on to win seven of their 14 Championship matches, drawing four and losing only three games. They amassed 207 points, enough for second place, but the deduction left them on 195 points, 10 points behind Somerset.

"I'm just so proud of them," Farbrace told BBC Radio Sussex. "I couldn't be more proud of a group of people.

"We've been through some really tough times as a club, and we're still going through that from a financial point of view.

"The players have been absolutely outstanding. I'm blessed I've got some fantastic staff - medical team, support staff, coaches like Grant Flower, James Kirtley, Ash Wright, Danny Briggs.

"The thing that is unique about this group of players is they play for one another, they try for one another and they're very proud of one another's success."

Former Sri Lanka head coach and England assistant coach Farbrace, 59, took over at Hove in 2022 and led the club back into Division One in 2024.

He is stepping down as head coach to be replaced by former Kent coach Matthew Walker for 2027, and will become Sussex's new director of cricket on a part-time basis.

"This is the last time I'm going to coach a team. But what a way to finish. Four years ago we were in Division Two, and at the bottom," he added.

"Ian Salisbury [former head coach], James Kirtley and others had no choice but to put young players in. A lot of those players have learnt the game playing first-team cricket.

"Henry Crocombe sums it up, really. He's learnt to play the game and he wasn't here this week because he's in the England squad.

"That's brilliant. That's what a club like Sussex should be all about. James Coles, getting his England call-up.

"Ollie Robinson, being made captain, being rejuvenated and off playing for England again. There's so many good stories around this team."

As well as Sussex's various point deductions across the three formats in 2026, the club was also placed under a player salary cap .

A number of players have already confirmed they are leaving Hove, including Crocombe, Tom Alsop, former England Under-19 batter George Thomas and all-rounder Fynn Hudson-Prentice.

The club said in June that eight players in total have been told they will not be offered contracts at the end of the season as they aim to regain control of their finances.

Sussex are also looking for a new batting coach after Grant Flower's decision to switch to Surrey for 2027.

"Grant has been brilliant for Sussex cricket for five years" said Farbrace. "We argue an awful lot about loads of things, but the bottom line is we both care about Sussex cricket and all we've ever wanted is to win.

"The club got things wrong financially, and I've held my hand up, I was part of that too. We made mistakes and that's why we're in the position we're in.

"But there's an awful lot of other really good people at Sussex who haven't made mistakes, and do nothing but care about Sussex - and that's why finishing third means so much."

Farbrace's move upstairs ends 30 years coaching in various positions, but he is confident the playing side of the club will be in good hands.

"I will miss it," he said. "But Matthew Walker has got a great group to take it on, and his job is to take us on to the next level.

"I really hope he can keep the nucleus of this team together, and keep them moving as a group."

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