Murray Goodwin and Corey Collymore will be back at Sussex next season.

The ECB have confirmed both will be eligible to return after finalising their regulations on the status of Kolpak players after months of consulation involving the 18 counties.

But all-rounder Dwayne Smith, who signed a three-year deal last season, will not be back unless it is as an overseas player.

The ECB have confirmed any player who had a work permit between 2006-09 will be allowed another in 2010, which clears Goodwin who made his Sussex debut in 2001.

Collymore is eligible because he has played a Test match for West Indies during the qualifying period and Sussex will announce in the next few days that he has signed a new one-year contract.

But Smith fails to meet the criteria over international appearances and his future at Hove could now be as a Twenty20 specialist.

The county can employ two overseas players when they defend their T20 title next season although Smith’s performances in limited overs cricket this season may also alert other counties to offer him a full-time deal.

Sussex have made no announcement about their main overseas player next season although Indian leg-spinner Piyush Chawla is believed to be favourite.

Chief executive Dave Brooks said: “We are delighted for Murray. He has given good service to the English game and has been a quality performer on a consistent basis. He has shown loyalty to the game and we have a responsibility to be loyal to him.

“But I also have a lot of sympathy for players like Dwayne. When we signed him a year ago he would not have known that the regulations may change and he might not be eligible in 2010.”

Discussions with out-of-contract players at Sussex are already underway but left-arm spinner Tom Smith admits his future may lie away from Hove even though he has a deal until the end of next season.

The 22-year-old played in the opening Championship game of the season against Lancashire but that proved to be his only first-class appearance.

A loan move to Worcestershire in August fell through and Smith has spent the last month with Surrey and he played for them in a Pro40 League game against Kent.

The loan was extended until the end of the season this week and Smith could get another Pro40 opportunity for the Brown Caps against Leicestershire on September 27.

His hopes of a permanent switch to the Oval appear to have been scuppered by Surrey’s decision to sign Gareth Batty from Worcestershire on a three-year contract.

Worcestershire wanted to take him for a month but Sussex coach Mark Robinson did not want him playing against his parent county and then Ian Fisher, whom Smith was replacing, made a quicker-than-expected recovery from a dislocated finger.

Smith said: “It was a big shame the Worcestershire thing fell through because it was at a time in the season when I needed to get a few games under my belt.

“But I have enjoyed my time with Surrey and it has been an easy transition because (director of cricket) Chris Adams is trying to replicate what he had at Sussex in terms of the work ethic, although it is obviously on a larger scale at a Test match county.

“It’s just been nice to have the opportunity to play more cricket but I’m not sure if there will be a permanent deal. I will think about my options at the end of the season.

“There has been some interest from other counties which is quite reassuring. I just want to play as much cricket as possible – I’m at an age where I feel I should be doing that.”