Sussex is stepping-up the county coaching programme to bring them more into line with the opposition.

David Harmer, the Sussex secretary, outlined plans at the annual meeting, with a warning that affiliation fees would have to rise to meet the cost.

But this, when put to the 2003 members' meeting, is not likely to be more than 50p a head. The SCGU is a particularly well run body and does not spring surprises on its 24,000 members.

Harmer said: "Each year they pay £3 to the union and £4.56 goes to the EGU. The annual county sub has remained unchanged for nine years.

"We spend on average £9,000 on coaching across the board. We intend to spend more to make us more competitive.

"Kent, I hear, are going to spend £28,000 this year and have increased their fees. Our South East group is a very tough one with Kent, Hampshire and Surrey able to field very strong teams. If, in order to compete more strongly we must spend more money, then we will."

The EGU say the junior club coaching programme, now in its fourth year, is the most successful yet.

All affiliated clubs have been invited to apply for grant aid and so far a record 512 have done so. This year some 4,500 kids have received coaching.

Since the programme started, 1,000 clubs have put in for aid and 35,000 youngsters have benefited from the coaching fund backed by Marsh Sports Group and Royal Sun Alliance.

A new face on the Sussex committee is Anup Vasant, from The Dyke, but Harmer would like to see more nominations from club members.

He said: "We get so few putting up which is sad. I've put nomination forms out in the last two years but had hardly any response.

"All we have is six meetings a year and it is important that we get the views of club members coming through at county level."