Don Trangmar has been forced out as chairman of Sussex County Cricket Club in a committee room revolt.

The 61-year-old, who has had the top job at Hove for four years, resigned yesterday and was immediately replaced by David Green.

The club's official line is that Trangmar stepped down for personal reasons.

I understand a section of the committee decided at their meeting on Tuesday night that it was time to force out someone they perceived as being too autocratic.

Several committee members are also believed to be upset that Trangmar had been paid for undertaking the role of acting chief executive since Dave Gilbert left the club at the end of last season.

When Trangmar sensed the mood of the meeting he immediately offered his resignation which was accepted unanimously.

Green, 54, a semi-retired businessman who has been on the committee for four years was elected as his successor.

Trangmar would not elaborate on the circumstances surrounding his departure although he admitted he was 'surprised and disappointed' by the sudden turn of events.

He said: "It has come as a surprise. I didn't expect not to be re-elected but if you haven't got the full support of everyone else then what is the point of carrying on.

"Why they have decided to do that I have no idea, it was their decision to make the change, but I am disappointed."

Trangmar is considering whether he will remain on the committee. He has three years left to serve, but it seems likely that he will sever all links with the club he has been a member of for 20 years.

"I need a little time to think about things," he added. "I don't know yet whether or not it would be a good thing to make a complete break."

Trangmar is furious that the club used 'personal reasons' as an excuse for his depature. There was no official statement from Sussex on the matter yesterday.

"What they said is nice, but it's not true," he added.

News of Trangmar's departure was greeted with dismay at the County Ground by supporters while staff members were said to be 'shocked and upset' at the unexpected turn of events.

Together with Gilbert he was responsible for raising the profile of the club including the signing of high-profile players like Chris Adams, Tony Cottey and Paul Hutchison and the installation of permanent floodlights at the County Ground.

And in his work with the ECB, he played a large part in the introduction of central contracts for England players.

One member said: "Quite a few of us are very upset. Don was a good chairman for this club.

"You could talk to him about anything to do with the club including the playing side and he listened which made a big difference from some of the people that have been in charge here over the years."

Green heads up the sub-committee overseeing ground re-development at Hove. He says he will still have an input in this area but he may try to share some of the responsibilities.

Semi-retired and living in Woodmancote, he owns construction and soft drinks companies and has been a Sussex supporter for over 30 years. His son Jeremy is in the club's ECB youth academy.

He said: "I'm semi-retired and I do have the time and interest in Sussex cricket to do the job.

"Nothing is going to change, on or off the field. We want to establish ourselves as a first division club on the field and there won't be change for the sake of it. Everything will continue at the club as it has before."