Sussex in profit despite reshaped schedule

Sussex have unveiled improved financial results despite claiming that the revamped county schedule introduced in 2014 cost them an estimated £100,000.

An operating profit of £122,000 was a sizeable improvement on the deficit of £65,000 in 2013 and confirms their status as one of the more financially stable counties in England's professional ranks.

Sizeable depreciation figures, however, mean that they have shown an overall deficit of £418,000 to follow another depreciation-influenced loss of £630,000 the previous year.

Sussex finished third in Division One of the County Championship, but their limited-overs cricket was a disappointment as they departed at the group stage in both the NatWest T20 Blast and Royal London 50-over competition.

Sussex's operating income rose 6% to £300,000 to £5.7m in 2014, largely driven by improved commercial and sponsorship deals. Concerts at their Hove ground, arranged only on a rental basis to minimise risk also drive revenue with Madness due later in the year.

Jim May, Sussex's chairman, said: "It is also a strong performance given we believe that the new domestic match schedule in 2014 cost us over £100k of lost income. Sussex remains in strong financial shape with no debt and had cash of over £1m at year end."