Outgoing Sussex head coach Paul Farbrace is “so proud” of the team after finishing third in the County Championship despite a season of financial turmoil.

The club were handed a 12-point deduction before the 2026 Championship campaign following losses of £1.3m in 2025.

They went on to win seven of their 14 Championship matches, drawing four and losing only three games. They amassed 207 points, enough for second place, but the deduction left them on 195 points, 10 points behind Somerset.

“I’m just so proud of them,” Farbrace told BBC Radio Sussex. “I couldn’t be more proud of a group of people.

“We’ve been through some really tough times as a club, and we’re still going through that from a financial point of view.

“The players have been absolutely outstanding. I’m blessed I’ve got some fantastic staff – medical team, support staff, coaches like Grant Flower, James Kirtley, Ash Wright, Danny Briggs.

“The thing that is unique about this group of players is they play for one another, they try for one another and they’re very proud of one another’s success.”

Former Sri Lanka head coach and England assistant coach Farbrace, 59, took over at Hove in 2022 and led the club back into Division One in 2024.

He is stepping down as head coach to be replaced by former Kent coach Matthew Walker for 2027, and will become Sussex’s new director of cricket on a part-time basis.

“This is the last time I’m going to coach a team. But what a way to finish. Four years ago we were in Division Two, and at the bottom,” he added.

“Ian Salisbury [former head coach], James Kirtley and others had no choice but to put young players in. A lot of those players have learnt the game playing first-team cricket.

“Henry Crocombe sums it up, really. He’s learnt to play the game and he wasn’t here this week because he’s in the England squad.

“That’s brilliant. That’s what a club like Sussex should be all about. James Coles, getting his England call-up.

“Ollie Robinson, being made captain, being rejuvenated and off playing for England again. There’s so many good stories around this team.”