We are off target

Trangmar talks to Bruce Talbot about the season so far and the club's plans, on and off the field for the future.

Lets start with the playing side. How would you assess the season so far?

I'd say we were slightly behind target. We want to win promotion in the Championship and occupy a challenging position in the National League first division and we're still in a reasonable position in both.

The bowling and fielding has been very good, but the batting has been a bit like the curate's egg. The top order is fine, but I'm disappointed with the contribution in the middle and lower order which has cost us games in one-day cricket and promising positions in the Championship such as against Warwickshire last week when I was very upset with our batting.

What changes do you think are needed to the playing side and would the club look elsewhere again to strengthen the team?

Our view is that the players have the ability to rectify their technical faults. I think it's more an attitude problem, it's about winning from different positions as a team and we're still learning to do that.

As regards personnel, we're not looking to drastically cut our staff at the end of the season.

If we feel we need to strengthen certain areas and the right player becomes available we will look to do that, but we are determined to bring through youngsters from our own academy who we feel are ready for first-class There is room for two or three of them to force their way into the first team squad.

How do you rate the performances of the coach, captain and overseas player?

Very satisfactory. I'm particularly pleased with the contribution made by Michael Bevan.

He has settled in well again, scored his runs and his helping Peter Moores and Chris Adams develop the side, in particular the young players.

He has the security of a two-year contract with an option of a third year and that suits both parties.

Chris Adams attracted some unwanted publicity earlier in the season. Any thoughts?

I don't condone the incidents Chris got involved in with David Constant and Danny Law, but the business at Essex got more publicity than it deserved because of the ECB's shambolic legal procedures.

I think people have got to make allowances for the disappointment Chris felt when he got back from the South African tour.

He was facing up to the fact that, in all probability, he wasn't going to be playing international cricket this summer and that led to a certain amount of frustration on and off the field.

But I think he is over that now and he has our full support because he is doing an excellent job.

At the AGM in March you promised some news about the development of Hove by the end of the season. What's happening?

I admit progress has been slow, but the pace is quickening a bit. We have had our first discussions with the local authorities and they have been very supportive.

What I can say is that it will be a staged development depending on financial resources and by the end of the year we should have some concrete plans to put before the membership.

We want a ground capable of staging international cricket, although it surprised me to see about 3,000 people at Canterbury for West Indies v Zimbabwe last week.

We could easily have staged that game.

Is a move away from Hove definitely off the agenda now?

I wouldn't rule it out altogether, but it's looking unlikely at this stage.

What progress has been made on the new youth facility at Blackstone?

The target was to raise £500,000 and I think we're already there which is good news. A number of other counties are looking at our blueprint for youth development now which is gratifying.

There's also a lot of interest from other clubs in the way we have franchised our outground cricket so Sussex continues to set the agenda which is good.

When will the new head groundsman be appointed and will his brief be to dig up the Hove wickets?

We've had a number of good applicants and interviews will start anytime. We hope to have someone appointed by the end of the season. It's too early to say what we will do about the Hove pitches, in all probability it will be left to the new groundsman to make recommendations although we are well aware that the pace and bounce Hove was renowned for has largely gone.

What have the members been complaining about most this season?

Two things mainly. The last day's play at Horsham, when the two captains couldn't agree on a target for us to chase, and the wicketkeeper situation. Sussex people are very loyal and supportive of Shaun Humphries.

But he has struggled to score runs and lost confidence. I have to back the judgment of the coach and captain on that one, I hope whoever is keeping wicket for us can back it up with some runs.

I still get the odd letter about Tony Cottey, but hardly any compared to last season. Of all the experienced players that have moved counties in the past two years I think he is the best and his performances prove it.

His critics haven't come up to me this season and said they were wrong, but there you go.

What would you say was your biggest achievement since you took over as chairman?

Improving the morale of the club 20 fold. I like to think that we are also more organised and professionally run. I can't help getting involved and my tenure might not be as long as I want because the committee have to re-elect me every year, but I love the job and find it very challenging.

What would you like to have achieved in five years time?

I would like us to have won a major final at Lord's, preferably with some of the youngsters who are showing potential now in our academy sides making a contribution.

Off the field I would have wanted the development of Hove to be well underway. I feel we are making progress.

But I don't want us to stand still and tread water, we are always looking to improve every aspect of the club's performance and as long as I'm involved that is what we will do.