The Gilligan Stand at the County Ground – one of the biggest eyesores in English cricket – could soon be demolished.

New chairman Jim May has asked the consultants who are overseeing the redevelopment of Sussex’s home to fast-track a scheme whereby the Gilligan Stand and the sweep of seats in the south-west corner of the County Ground disappear.

The plan is to start work this winter and two temporary stands will be put up in their place in time for next year’s Twenty20 Cup campaign and the tour match against Australia.

May said: “I think it is quite important symbolically because we have had a couple of false starts with the redevelopment.

“It will require planning permission and we have to make sure that what we do does not become a financial black hole.

“But aesthetically it would improve and enhance the look of the ground.”

Sussex have planning permission until August 2010 to build a hotel and flats as part of a major re-development of the southern end of the County Ground.

But those plans were abandoned earlier this year because of the worsening economic climate.

May added: “By next week we hope to have appointed business planning consultants who specialise in designing community stadiums to come up with a masterplan for the sustained redevelopment of the County Ground.”

Meanwhile, former chairman Don Trangmar is to be offered a vice-presidency of the club.

Trangmar was chairman for four years before resigning in 2002 but held discussions with May earlier this week during Sussex’s Championship match against Durham.