HUW TURBERVILL - EXCLUSIVE: Bob Warren stepped down at last week's annual meeting, and his replacement is Filby, who has been chair of the Sussex Cricket Foundation since 2017
Sussex have a new chairman and Matt Prior is hailing it as a big step forward after a period of infighting.
Bob Warren stepped down at last week's annual meeting, and his replacement is Jon Filby, who has been chair of the Sussex Cricket Foundation since 2017.
Two years before that he was project manager for the integration of Sussex CCC with the Sussex Cricket Board.
Prior tweeted on Wednesday morning (April 6): "The majority of [Sussex] fans/members won't realise how important the changes made over the last week have been for the club. I wholeheartedly believe the right calls have been made and am now hopeful we will be able to rebuild and right many of the wrongs from the last six years!"
The former wicketkeeper has been an outspoken critic of those in charge of Sussex in recent seasons. It remains to be seen if the 40-year-old, who won 79 Test caps for England, will become involved with the club again now.
Matt Prior has tweeted his support for recent changes behind the scenes at Sussex
One ex-legend who is back on board, on the cricket committee, is Chris Adams, who led the county to their only County Championship titles in 2003, 2006 and 2007.
Sussex have resisted the temptation to appoint him as coach after he had a difficult spell at Surrey that saw some success on the field, but testing times off it.
Now the cricket pro at Seaford School in West Sussex, he was invited by chief executive Rob Andrew on to the committee along with another former favourite, Tony Cottey.
Adams has shown he is prepared to be an independent voice, criticising the news that Cheteshwar Puajara's debut has been postponed until next week because of a visa problem. He tweeted: "Very disappointing news... six months to get this sorted and it's a week late, why? In my new role I will ask the question."
Head coach Ian Salisbury presented a positive face at the club's press day. He hopes that the squad of youngsters that he blooded last year will come of age this, augmented by the signing of veteran quick Steve Finn.
There has been a lot of upheaval at Hove in recent seasons
Ben Brown, Chris Jordan, Phil Salt, Danny Briggs, Michael Burgess, Laurie Evans, Reece Topley and Luke Wells have all departed in recent years.
Sussex used 26 players in the Championship last season: three were at school and 10 were in their university years. Those who remain include captain Tom Haines (23), who many felt should have been with England Lions in Australia, Jamie Atkins (19), Jack Carson (21), James Coles (18), Henry Crocombe (20), George Garton (25), Sean Hunt (20), Dan Ibrahim (17), Archie Lenham (17) and Ali Orr (21).
Fans have blasted Andrew for allowing stars to leave, and not replacing them with experienced players; but with £300,000 in the bank after several years coping with Covid, how is the club expected to embark on such a spending spree?
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