Several high-profile former Sussex players including Matt Prior and Mushtaq Ahmed have demanded the club’s board step down in the light of financial troubles at Hove.

Former England wicketkeeper Prior and ex-Pakistan spinner Mushtaq have both signed an open letter calling for the board to resign in full after Sussex admitted ‘sustained operating losses’ and were placed under financial controls by the ECB.

The club have had a player salary cap imposed until 2028 and been given points deductions in all three domestic competitions for the coming season.

Acting chief executive Mark West, speaking to BBC Radio Sussex earlier this week, admitted that the new financial framework agreed with the ECB could make it difficult for the county to retain players when contracts come up for renewal.

The letter has also been signed by three former Sussex captains and England internationals – Chris Adams, who led the county to three titles between 2003 and 2007, Ian Gould and Alan Wells.

Other signatories include ex-Zimbabwe batter Murray Goodwin, Neil Lenham, Les Lenham, Jason Lewry and Robin Martin-Jenkins, along with several Sussex members and past and present sponsors.