Champions

The champagne corks were popping at Hove on Friday night after the county clinched the division two title with a ten-wicket win over Gloucestershire.

And on the day they unveiled new signing Paul Hutchison, who has joined on a three-year contract, Adams revealed his ambition to emulate the achievements of Hutchison's former club Yorkshire who won the first division title.

"We've got a tremendous team spirit and a great work ethic, but just as importantly we are building a team for the future as the signing of Paul demonstrates," he said.

"It would be easy to single out individuals because we have three players score over 1,000 runs and also take over 50 wickets is a great achievement, it must be a long time since any side did that.

"But everyone has contributed to our success in some way and that is so important. We've signed Paul and we may strengthen the squad in other areas because we don't want to go up and come straight back down again which is what all the counties who have won promotion have done.

"It will be even harder staying in division one than getting there, but we're developing a squad here which hopefully can bring the club some long-term success and more days like the one we had today."

Kirtley's match return of 10-93 also made him the country's highest wicket-taker with 75, although he may be overtaken by Surrey's Martin Bicknell.

He took five wickets after lunch to finish with a season's best 6-34 as Gloucestershire went from 149-4 to 173 all out before Sussex knocked off the 18 runs needed.

The county have the opportunity to make it a double celebration tomorrow when they play their final game of the season.

Victory over Hampshire in the Norwich Union League at Hove would give them promotion providing Worcestershire fail to beat Essex.

Coach Peter Moores said: "It would be a fantastic way to round off the season if we could get another promotion."

Gates open at 10.30am for a noon start and the end of season players' presentations take place after the game.