Murray Goodwin says he is still waiting to hear whether he has a future at Sussex.

The county are still trying to put together a financial package which would extend the opener's stay with Sussex into a fourth season.

And Goodwin, a key part of the Championship-winning team, admits "it hurts" that any new deal will be for the 2004 season only.

The ECB have told Sussex they can only offer a one-year contract to Goodwin pending a long-term ruling over second overseas players which is due to be made before the end of the year.

The county have already agreed a two-year deal with leg spinner Mushtaq Ahmed after he took 103 wickets to lead Sussex to their first title.

Director of Cricket Peter Moores insists Sussex will make Goodwin an offer. It will then be up to the Zimbabwean to decide whether to stay for another season or look for the security of a longer contract with a rival county.

Speaking in Melbourne, where he is playing for Western Australia, Goodwin said: "I can understand the reasons why Sussex have not yet offered me a contract for next season.

"But at the same time it hurts because I have had three years at Hove and I want to be a part of the future success.

"I realise that I might have to look for a new county, but Sussex remain my first choice.

"We have improved in each of my three seasons at Hove and winning the Championship this year was the pinnacle.

Goodwin insists he has not heard from Sussex since the end of the season.

"If Sussex release me it will cost them even more money to employ a big name overseas cricketer in the future," he added.

The departures of bowlers Paul Hutchison, Billy Taylor and Shaun Rashid have left Sussex with 15 contracted pros for next season including new signing Ian Ward.

Moores intends to add three more names to the squad and hopes negotiations will have concluded in the next three weeks, but he is giving little away.

"There have got to be three new signings and one of those could be an overseas player," he said.

"We have a cake and it's a case of how we slice it up. There are irons in the fire but all I would say is that we are in a pretty strong position to attract players because we are the champions and we also have a good track record of bringing in young players.

"There haven't been any serious negotiations with Murray because we are looking at all our options at the moment. All we know is that we can only offer him a one-year contract."

The county are still favourites to sign former Pakistani fast bowler Mohammad Akram, who finished last season with Essex, when he becomes English qualified through residency before the end of the year.