Chief executive Zac Toumazi admits “the jury is out” on whether Sussex will host festivals at two outgrounds next season.

Sussex have traditionally staged games at both Arundel and Horsham but financial pressures are likely to mean one – or possibly even both – will be scrapped in 2016.

The Horsham festival was only saved in 2014 by a donation of £5,000 from an anonymous benefactor and the switch to starting Championship games to Sundays since then has exacerbated the problem due to the fall in corporate hospitality revenue.

Toumazi insists no decision will be made until after the fixture list is confirmed in around two weeks’ time but has warned supporters that the club is not prepared to continue taking a financial hit just to protect outground cricket.

Toumazi said: “In an ideal world we would keep two festivals but we have made it clear for a number of years that it is difficult financially to do that because of the lack of corporate support.

“That is becoming more and more of a problem. It is not something that has gone away.

“The question is whether it is sustainable to have two games at outgrounds every year and the jury is still out on that.

“We are actively looking for corporate partners to support the festivals and we will continue to work hard on that. Hopefully we will be able to find a solution but it would be misleading of me to give supporters false hope.”

Arundel regularly attracts bumper crowds and is regarded as one of the most picturesque grounds in the country but a lifeless pitch has tended to produce attritional cricket. Horsham is popular with the players and coaching staff due to the facilities and an excellent playing surface but is not as commercially viable.

Sussex are also exploring the possibility of taking cricket back to Eastbourne for the first time since 2000 with the local council and businesses showing interest in supporting a festival although any return to the Saffrons is likely to be in 2017 at the earliest.

Toumazi added: “It would be unfair to say that one (Horsham or Arundel) is more under threat than the other.

“One may deliver more money than the other but the purpose of playing at outgrounds is to take cricket into the wider community.

“There are pros and cons of both venues so we will take our time to see what is viable in the context of the financial challenges we face once the fixtures come out and then make an informed decision.”