Rob Andrew says Sussex WILL survive the Covid-19 crisis – even if the season is wiped out.

And he is determined to keep all jobs at the club intact.

The county have furloughed coaching staff – from Jason Gillespie down – as well as all players and all but 20 off-field employees.

They were due to start their Championship season tomorrow at home to Durham.

The season is on hold but chief executive Andrew is hopeful of play later in the summer.

Andrew said: “From what I have seen so far that reaction is going to give cricket the best chance to survive even the very worst case scenario of this summer being wiped out.

“We are absolutely gearing ourselves into a position where we can and will survive the worst case situation if we are confronted with it.”

Asked about the threat of redundancies, he said: “One of the things we are trying to do desperately – and one of the reasons we have taken the action we have taken, and that is why I am so pleased and grateful for all the staff – is to get everybody committing to playing their part and supporting us to get through this.

“One of the things we have talked about from the start of this is we are trying to protect everybody’s job so that, when life comes back to normal, everybody can come back to do the job they love doing. The furloughed people don’t want to be furloughed but they understand why we have to do this.”

Sussex are in discussions with overseas player Travis Head as to whether he comes to England.

They are open to playing matches behind closed doors.

Andrew said: “If we can get the virus under control, how you exit from this? We are looking at everything.

“All sports are considering matches behind closed doors. They have to.

“Nobody really knows what the government message will be on mass gatherings when and if there is a relaxation of the current restrictions.

“I think everybody has to look at all options.”