Sussex issues 'starting to get to me' - Farbrace

Paul Farbace, wearing a black jacket with the Sussex CCC logo, a Nike tick and his initials PF, before day three of the County Championship game against Somerset at the County Ground on 17 May.Shutterstock

Sussex boss Paul Farbrace says the next 10 days will be "really tough" for everyone at the club

Ben AshtonBBC Sport EnglandandAdrian HarmsBBC Radio Sussex

Sussex head coach Paul Farbrace says he is "finding it hard" to deal with the off-field issues at the club.

Farbrace confirmed in April that he would be leaving at the end of the season amid Sussex's ongoing financial problems after they posted losses of £1.3m in 2025.

The Division One club were given a 12-point deduction in the County Championship for "sustained operating losses" and were docked a point in both the T20 Blast and One-Day Cup.

The ECB also imposed tighter financial controls on Sussex including a salary cap until 2028, making it more difficult to retain players.

As of 1 June, rival counties are officially allowed to approach players who are out of contract at the end of the season.

Multiple Sussex players have deals expiring at the end of summer, including fast bowler Henry Crocombe, wicketkeeper John Simpson and batter Tom Clark.

Bowling all-rounder Fynn Hudson-Prentice, Danny Lamb and Charlie Tear will also be out of contract.

"It's definitely starting to get to me because I feel a huge weight of responsibility to try and make the right decisions to give us a chance of having some sort of a squad next year," Farbrace told BBC Radio Sussex after the T20 defeat at Hampshire on Tuesday.

"I've been able to start having discussions with some players and I've got a lot more discussions to have with a few others over the coming days.

"They're discussions I'm not looking forward to having."

'A chunk of players will leave'

Sussex's Henry Crocombe, wearing the white Sussex jersey, celebrates taking the wicket of Yorkshire's Logan Beek in April.Getty Images

Sussex's leading County Championship wicket-taker Henry Crocombe is one of several players out of contract at the end of the season

Farbrace said it is "pretty obvious that this group of players have only got a few months left together".

"Come the end of season, there will be a chunk of players leaving, and that's not their fault, it's not their decision and for some of them, it will be heartbreaking," he said.

In what Farbrace described as a "pivotal week for the club", the 58-year-old has praised the players for their attitude throughout the ongoing uncertainty.

"The lads have been brilliant up to now," he said. "They've not let the disappointment and the anger of what's going on at the club get in the way.

"But it is going to be a tricky next couple of weeks."

Sussex still face the prospect of another £1m shortfall this season and have to make cuts from their playing budget to reduce costs.

Any contract offers they make to players have to be overseen by the ECB.

Farbrace said it is his job to try and keep contract distractions away from the dressing room.

"But I'll be perfectly honest," he reiterated. "I'm not looking forward to the next couple of weeks in terms of the off-field stuff."