Most county chairmen rarely venture far from their holy of holies, the committee room, during a home match. Sussex's Don Trangmar is different.

In fact he seems to be in his element when he strides purposefully around the County Ground, occasionally plonking himself on a bench ready to have his ear bent as he tries to gauge the mood of the Hove faithful.

Even during the closing six weeks of last season, when the county endured their worst run of results during his chairmanship, he didn't hide away. Members appreciate his accessibility, especially those with longer memories who remember the days when Sussex chairmen were rarely spotted between one AGM and the next.

Things must be going quite well if he is able to report, at the halfway stage of the season, that most 'are happy with the way the club is progressing.'

Sussex went into yesterday's Championship match against Durham on course for promotion to Division One and while one-day performances have been 'below standard' a good run of results could still catapult them into contention for honours in the Norwich Union League.

Off the field, the long-awaited redevelopment of the County Ground is finally starting to gather some momentum.

Work on the junior ground at Blackstone is due to be completed by the middle of next summer while building the new indoor school, which will incorporate the ECB-backed youth academy, will start in the Autumn. That will be the first phase of a redevelopment which Trangmar hopes will finish when Sussex have a 10,000 capacity arena with a new pavilion, all during the term of his chairmanship.

No wonder a smile occasionally breaks across his somewhat weatherbeaten face. Things are going well, but he is all too aware how quickly the mood can change within the club and among members desperate to see their county achieve some tangible success.

A year ago Sussex were top of Division Two and poised for promotion. But they lost four of their last five Championship games and hurtled down the table, eventually coming to rest with a bump at the bottom.

Now Sussex find themselves in a position to push for promotion again. This time, however, Trangmar predicts a much different outcome.

"We're in a similar position to the end of last July, but I think we have a stronger and more resilient side," he said. "We're all determined that the situation last year, when the wheels fell off and we didn't know where to look for them, never mind put them back on, won't develop.

"Team spirit and morale is excellent. I think that has a lot to do with the way (coach) Peter Moores and (captain) Chris Adams have responded to the criticism they received at the end of last season. There is a much more exuberant and committed approach on the field."

If Sussex do go up then Trangmar is ready to open the purse strings and strengthen the squad to make sure the county establish themselves as a force in Division One.

Only three players were taken on last season, including two youngsters from the Academy. Instead the decision was made to promote younger players.

It was a big risk. The likes of Bas Zuiderent and Michael Yardy had done little, even in second team cricket, to suggest they could forge long first-class careers while Sussex took an even bigger punt on teenage wicketkeeper Matt Prior.

But the gamble paid off, so much so that the trio have recently been awarded new two-year extensions to their current contracts.

Nothing that has happened at Hove in the last 12 months has pleased Trangmar more than to see them prosper. Now he hopes a few more gems can be unearthed from within the current staff, eight of whom will be looking for new deals in a couple of months time.

"We have got to make sure those on contract next season have the potential to emulate those who have already broken through," he insists.

"There's no point perpetuating youngsters or not so young players in the second team if they are not going to break through.

I don't believe in long apprenticeships in second team cricket, I think it takes the edge off them and they can rapidly become disillusioned and lose ambition.

"You do need a second XI, but ideally you want a squad of around 14-15 players capable of holding their own in the first team."

As well as already concluding contract talks with three players, negotiations about extended deals are also underway with Jason Lewry and Mark Robinson.

But Trangmar gets a bit more defensive when the subject of Moores' future is broached. He is out of contract at the end of the season and committee discussions on his future won't start until mid-August.

A suspicious mind might conclude that the county are waiting to see whether Sussex get promoted before deciding whether the coach stays or goes.

"All I will say is that Peter's contract will be discussed at a time we think is more suitable," is his somewhat terse response. "But I'm happy with the way he's responded to what happened at the end of last season."

His mood improves considerably when asked what motivates him. "To see the team on the field doing well with youngsters coming in and gaining contracts is the most motivating aspect of my job."