Sussex County Cricket Club will not be joining the scramble to sign Darren Gough and John Crawley.

Gough has indicated that he is considering leaving Yorkshire because of criticism from within Headingley about his irregular appearances for the county champions.

And Crawley is looking for a move away from Lancashire, even though he still has three years left on his current contract, after he was replaced as captain at Old Trafford by Warren Hegg at the end of the season.

Essex and Middlesex have already been linked with a move for Gough, who is based in Buckinghamshire, while Hampshire are among the counties preparing a bid to sign Crawley.

Sussex recruited left-armer Paul Hutchison at the end of the season and skipper Chris Adams believes the former Yorkshire and England A bowler will probably be their only major winter signing.

Adams said: "In an ideal world I'm sure the club would love to sign both these players. Crawley is a very experienced batsman who would virtually guarantee you 1,200 runs a season.

"I know Goughie from my England tour a couple of years ago and he's a tremendous bloke. Every county would love someone who could blast batsmen out like he does but I think our seam bowling at this moment is okay, especially now we've also got Hutch on board.

"We won't be trying to sign them, it would be an extravagance and if we are looking to strengthen the squad we would probably look in other areas.

"Someone like Crawley could inhibit the development of younger batsmen who we are trying to bring through like Mike Yardy, Bas Zuiderent and Tim Ambrose. And don't forget we have an experienced batsman of our own who will be fit for next season in Tony Cottey."

Meanwhile, Hutchison and Yardy are heading off to South Africa in the new year to spend two months at the Port Elizabeth Cricket Academy. Former Academy player Krishana Singh will be joining them.

They will work on all aspects of their game in a fully integrated programme as well as playing for the Academy team.

Sussex off-spinner Mark Davis and the county's former opening batsman Kepler Wessels are on the Academy's coaching staff.