An English county cricket club has been placed into special measures after posting a £297,000 loss. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is reported to have made the decision due to alleged financial mismanagement and breaches of the sporting body’s sustainability regulations at Sussex County Cricket Club.

The South Coast Club is set to be subject to spending limits, with any major spending, such as player signings or registrations, requiring approval, it is understood. Sussex’s financial returns will also be looked at by the ECB, which will, in addition, observe meetings of its top brass, it has been reported.

The club said: “At this stage, the club will not be making any comment. We ask our members and supporters for patience while we work through an ongoing process. We are confident that we will find a constructive solution and a positive way forward for the club.

“At this stage, we are unable to comment further, but will provide a further update when we are in a position to do so.”

Sussex could face more measures, including a large fine and deduction to their County Championship points this season, if it is also found to have breached the ECB’s county partnership agreement.

In published accounts for 2024, the most recent, the club recorded an operating loss of £297,000.

However, The Guardian reports that its losses for 2025 are understood to have been even bigger.

It comes after the ECB raised £520million by selling stakes in Hundred teams to private investors last year, as it aims to grow the shorter 100-ball version of the game.

Officials have distributed tens of millions of pounds garnered from the Hundred sales to counties that have shown it will be used to pay off historic debt, such as Yorkshire.

The ECB insists that it should not be put towards clubs’ general running costs or wage bills.