SUSSEX are taking the strain out of life on the road.

The county are set to hand over organisational headaches at their outgrounds to the host clubs.

In return, the likes of Horsham, Eastbourne and Hastings stand to make a more handsome profit from having Chris Adams and his men in town.

Horsham's business manager Neville Warner said his club would pay Sussex a fixed fee, which has yet to be determined, in return for the right to run the show at their historic Cricket Field Road ground.

He admitted: "It represents a bigger risk on our part but we will be able to take over the event totally and promote Horsham Cricket & Sports Club.

"Beforehand we would simply provide the ground. We used to make a reasonable amount out of the matches but it was Sussex who took care of such things as stewarding and the sponsors' marquees.

"The advantage for them is that they will now receive a fixed amount from us and have none of the headaches."

Similar arrangements are being discussed at Eastbourne and Hastings.

Although the out grounds will have no contract to guarantee they stage a Sussex game every year, they are confident the new set-up will make life away from Hove more appealing for the county club.

Warner added: "The players enjoy coming to the outgrounds and it takes cricket out to the public.

"We're looking forward to seeing Middlesex and Leicestershire here this summer and we expect the county games to continue for the foreseeable future."

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