So we are safe from relegation: phew, what a relief.

In a topsy turvy season in which we have never really found our rhythm most of the players will be reasonably happy that we have consolidated our position in the first division of the Championship.

There is disappointment, for sure. When we sit down with a beer at the end of the Surrey match, there will be a feeling of 'what might have been' at the back of our minds.

If it hadn't rained at The Oval during the first game of the season; if we'd finished Warwickshire off in the last session at Edgbaston; if Owais Shah hadn't defied the odds and the pitch on the last day against Middlesex at Hove. We could have pipped Warwickshire for the title again if all these things had gone our way.

It's worth pointing out that there is still interest left in the County Championship. The Lancashire/Gloucestershire game at Old Trafford, which started today, has intriguing potential for scandal. Gloucestershire are 17 points ahead of Lancashire and the result of the fixture will decide the fate of both teams. If Lancashire were to score 400 and bowl their opponents out for less than 300 and then win the game, they would consign Gloucestershire to the second division.

This is an entirely plausible scenario given the potential and class of the Lancashire team; a team, let us not forget, that was the bookmakers' favourite to win the title at the start of the summer.

However, this situation assumes Lancashire takes its full quota of bowling points. These could be denied them if Gloucestershire's captain was to declare when his team was only two wickets down. He would virtually forfeit the game but ensure division one status for his team.

ECB officials are keeping a close eye on the match and they have told Gloucestershire that any skulduggery will be pounced upon. The likelihood, therefore, is that Gloucestershire will try to beat Lancashire (or at least avoid defeat) fairly and squarely.

The Sussex players will be keeping a keen eye on the events at Old Trafford and will no doubt all be backing Gloucestershire in their heart of hearts. There is no love lost between Lancashire and Sussex after our rivalry almost erupted into warfare last year. There is always a perverse pleasure in seeing a 'big' team brought down to size. I'm certain that's what people felt when Goliath was slain by David's catapult.

On a more personal note it would mean not having to bowl at Stuart Law next year. Although he has had a disappointing season by his own standards, he has always been a nemesis for us and he still managed to score a match-winning 171 not out to virtually beat us single-handed at Hove. I'm sure my fellow Sussex bowlers would join me in breathing a huge sigh of relief if we are given a year's break at bowling against him.

On the other hand, there are fewer cricket grounds in England I enjoy less than the county ground at Bristol. It is a huge, open field with drab grey buildings surrounding it. If the Lancashire team does pull a rabbit out of a hat, at least we would be spared spending a week in Bristol! All we need now is for Lancashire to go down and Stuart Law to defect to Gloucestershire. Now that would cause nightmares.