SPONSORS are not turning their back on Sussex despite the county's dismal performances last season.

Berkshire-based company West Coast Computers have this week agreed to sponsor the floodlights at the County Ground.

And Chief Executive Dave Gilbert revealed today that the county were on course to improve on the £178,000 they made from sponsorship last year.

He said: "I was worried we would have trouble attracting sponsors. The 2000 season was a shocker, but companies seem to have based their decisions on the fact that we made real progress in the previous two years. Given the poor finish we had last season, they have been incredibly tolerant.

"The work our commercial team, Russell Taylor and Neil Lenham, have put in has been tremendous and they deserve a lot of credit."

Sussex's six hospitality boxes are already sold out for the season and there has been a lot of interest in corporate hospitality for the three-day game against Australia in August.

"There's no doubt having the Australians here has helped," added Gilbert. "But we are already halfway to our projected target for the year which is excellent news."

Sussex will play four of their CGU National League games under floodlights and all four, as well as the under-19 international between England and West Indies in July, will be televised by Sky Sports.

"There is still a lot of interest in floodlit cricket from the corporate sector," said Gilbert. "We are delighted to have West Coast with us."