Chairman David Green insisted today that Sussex will not be spending their £4.3 million on expensive additions to the playing staff.

The county cricket club is the major beneficiary of the will of former president Spen Cama, who left it £7m of his estimated £23m estate.

There has already been speculation that Sussex will recruit a high-profile star if, as expected, the regulations are relaxed next season and counties are allowed to employ two overseas players.

But Green says most of the legacy left by Cama will be spent on ground improvements although a sum will be ring-fenced to ensure the long-term financial security of the club.

He said: "People might think we've got £4 million-plus burning a hole in our pocket, but that is not the case. To start with we are not going to get any of the money for a year. We have already borrowed against it to help pay for the new indoor school and we're not going down to do that again."

Sussex were among 16 of the 18 clubs who agreed that the number of overseas players should be doubled when the first-class forum met at the start of the season.

Green's predecessor Don Trangmar was an enthusiastic supporter of the proposal.

The players union objected and Sussex have now changed their stance following a committee meeting on Tuesday when, after a debate instigated by Green, they voted 8-1 to oppose the plan when a final decision is taken by the counties in September.

Coach Peter Moores has always been against the idea and Sussex's concerns are twofold.

There is an ever-increasing pool of players qualified because they hold EU passports or have English parents. Sussex already have four and more will become available as the European Union expands over the next two years.

With the international calendar becoming even more congested there is no guarantee that a second overseas star will be available for the whole of the English season anyway.

Green said: "There could be a situation soon where cricket becomes like football and a county ends up like Chelsea, full of non-British players."