Sussex have welcomed the life ban imposed on former player Lou Vincent as the club bids to put the match-fixing scandal firmly behind them.

Vincent pleaded guilty to 18 charges of fixing yesterday, relating to two Sussex games in 2011 and another match for Lancashire in 2008.

The former New Zealand international is the second former Sussex player to be banned from any cricketing activity for life by the ECB after Naved Arif received a similar punishment last month.

Vincent and Arif conspired to fix the result of Sussex’s CB40 clash with Kent at Hove in August 2011 while Vincent also admitted helping to fix the result of Sussex’s Twenty20 quarter-final against Lancashire in the same month.

Results on the pitch have suffered since the allegations were made public in May with skipper Ed Joyce and coach Mark Robinson admitting the scandal had taken a heavy toll on the squad.

Sussex have worked hard with the ECB to aid their investigations into both Vincent and Arif and chief executive Zac Toumazi hopes the county can now move forward without a cloud hanging over them.

Toumazi said: “The episode has been a very difficult time for our players, staff and indeed all supporters of Sussex cricket. We welcome the sanction imposed.

“We are determined to do all we can to drive this issue away from our game and remain vigilant and committed in doing so.

“We are grateful for the many messages of support received when this issue became public from those that truly care about Sussex cricket and the game that we all love. It is critical that we understand that this was the behaviour of individuals and not the club.

“It is time for us to look forward to the future and strive for success on and off the field of play.”