A row over the recruitment of new chief executive Nigel Russell sparked committee room unrest which led to the departure of Sussex chairman Don Trangmar.

His successor David Green was keen to stress that it was business as usual at Hove yesterday, but the fallout from Trangmar's surprise resignation on Tuesday continues.

Green insisted that Trangmar's decision to step down, which he made just before the start of Tuesday's committee meeting was "a bolt out of the blue."

Some were believed to be unhappy at his perceived interference in the selection of Russell who takes up his post on July 15.

A group comprising of committee members John Ebdon, Guy Walker and vice-chairman John Snow have been supervising the appointment of a new Chief Executive since Dave Gilbert left last September.

In the interim, Trangmar became acting chief executive but the fact that he was paid what Green describes as 'nominal expenses' for undertaking the role appears to have been another bone of contention.

Trangmar wanted both items discussed at Tuesday's meeting. When it became clear he did not have the full support of his colleagues he resigned as acting chief executive and said he did not wish to stand for re-election as chairman.

Snow tried to change his mind but Trangmar, 61, refused to budge.

Trangmar remains angry at the club's lack of candour in the whole affair. When the news broke on Wednesday the club had insisted his resignation was for 'personal reasons.'

He said: "I don't like the spin they are putting on it. The events just didn't match their story.

"I don't want to get involved in a slanging match, but if I had resigned for personal reasons I would have said so.

"I know I didn't have the backing of the committee, why didn't they just say it was in the best interests of the club?"

Green still hopes Trangmar will remain on the committee although it seems likely that he will sever his links with the club.

Green said: "When Don came into the meeting and told us he wasn't standing we were all lost for words.

"Don is a very engaging character with strong opinions on a lot of things. Sometimes it can provoke disagreement but I don't think that has been the case for a couple of years."

Green, who has been on the committee since 1998, insists there are no 'smoking guns in skeletons in the cupboard' at committee level.

"We are a very close-knit community, we don't have warring factions. My motto is that if it ain't broke don't fix it, the club runs itself and the managers here are very competent."