Murray Goodwin has been cleared to extend his Sussex career after the counties threw out proposals to reduce the number of overseas players.

Sussex voted in favour of cutting numbers from two to one per county from next season at the meeting of the first class forum, but the vote went 11-7 in favour of maintaining the status quo.

Goodwin, who joined the county in 2001, was only offered a one-year contract this season because Sussex, who had already agreed a two-year deal with Mushtaq Ahmed, were confident the overseas quota would be reduced.

Now the way is clear for him to continue a county career which has already brought him more than 4,500 first-class runs.

Director of cricket Peter Moores said: "It's wrong to think that by voting for two overseas players that counties don't care about English cricket.

"We want the Championship to be watchable and competitive and there's no doubt overseas players add quality to the spectacle people pay to watch."

The counties also decided to set up an interim review group which will look at, among other issues, the development of Twenty20 cricket, the issue of promotion and relegation in the Championship and the future of the National League.