Sussex begin their 2026 campaign at Leicestershire on Friday. Sussex head coach Paul Farbrace will step down at the end of the 2026 campaign amid the club's ongoing financial issues. The former England assistant, 58, told the county's AGM last week that his future at Hove was "uncertain".

Sussex posted losses of £1.3m in 2025 and face the prospect of another £1m shortfall this season. They will start their Division One season on Friday with a 12-point deduction, which was handed to them in February following "sustained operating losses".

"I felt it was important to give the club clarity now as it plans for the future," Farbrace told the club website. "My focus is entirely on the next six months. We have a fantastic opportunity this season and I will be giving everything, every day, to help this group be as successful as possible. I remain fully committed to leading the team throughout the campaign."

Farbrace joined the county in December 2022 and led them to promotion to Division One in 2024. They finished fourth in the table last season, but look set to struggle this year after the ECB imposed tighter financial controls on the club. Farbrace's upcoming departure follows the resignation of Sussex chairman Jon Filby in February.

"I've thoroughly enjoyed my time at Sussex and it has been a privilege to work with such a talented group of players and staff," Farbrace added. "We've made significant progress together and built a squad that I believe is capable of achieving something special. That makes this a difficult decision, but it is one I feel is right all round."

Analysis - Adrian Harms, BBC Radio Sussex commentator

Paul Farbrace dropped a heavy hint at last week's AGM that this might be his last season at the club. He had always planned that the project at Sussex would be for five years, but said that timescale had been cut to four due to the financial crisis at the club.

However, this is another huge blow for the club who were on their knees on the field when he took over in the winter of 2022. Farbrace quickly recognised that whilst Sussex had a crop of very talented young players, that experience and leadership were badly lacking, and in his words Sussex had "forgotten how to win".

Never afraid of difficult sometimes unpopular decisions, the squad was transformed with a winning mentality installed, that saw promotion from Division Two of the Championship and an appearance at T20 Finals Day in 2024, and a highly respectable fourth place in the Division One last season.

His departure gives Sussex time to plan beyond the end of this season, but with the club likely to be under ECB special measures for some considerable time, it will be very difficult to appoint a coach of Farbrace's undoubted pedigree. In summary he'll be sorely missed.

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