I have been asked by many supporters over the last three years and only this week by a former team mate: “Why aren’t you back at Sussex? They really need you.”

I have to say it does hurt to see Sussex struggling so badly.

What makes it harder to take is that my offers to help my old county out have been repeatedly rejected over the last three years.

I’d love to go in and help my former team-mate Mark Davis in whatever capacity is required to turn the club’s spiralling fortunes around.

Crazy I know but I would even be prepared to work for free and have let Sussex know that.

Not forever, of course, but for a month or so to prove the positive influence I am sure I could have on the players and convince the powers that be I deserve a more permanent role.

So why am I setting off to Amsterdam this week to link up again with the Netherlands and not going back to my old stomping ground to help dig Sussex out of a rut? The honest answer is I don’t know.

One theory thrown at me is that bringing in a ‘big personality’ who played such a prominent role in Sussex’s golden era would undermine the current head coach in his first year in the role.

If results suddenly improved then everyone would point to me and say I should be in charge. That is simply ridiculous for a couple of reasons.

Firstly, Mark Davis is a very good friend of mine from our playing days together and I’ve said right from the moment he took over from Mark Robinson that I would like nothing better than for him and his team to be successful.

Secondly, look what happened when Nottinghamshire brought in Pete Moores as a coaching consultant when they were struggling in the Championship last year.

The team’s fortunes were suddenly transformed but instead of weakening Mick Newell’s position it actually strengthened it as he was no longer under pressure.

Moores, a former England coach who won the Championship with Sussex in 2003, didn’t push for the top job and was happy to sign a longer-term contract at the end of the season.

I know I could have a similar effect on Sussex and give Mark the support he needs as he gets to grips with what is a very challenging situation at the club.

Perhaps Sussex don’t think I have much to offer. I had mixed experiences in my time at Surrey as head coach but inside two years since I joined them the team had won promotion from division two and clinched a first one-day trophy for eight years - something Sussex would bite your hand off for in their current predicament.

Since then I’ve helped Sri Lanka to a clean sweep on their 2014 tour of England including a historic first ever Test series win in England and have been part of the rise of the Netherlands over the last two years.

Add the fact I won three Championship titles and numerous one-day competitions as Sussex captain and surely you reach the conclusion that I’d be able to bring a real understanding of what success looks like.