The financial problems at Hove which triggered that deduction led Farbace to announce in April that he would step down as head coach at the end of the 2026 season.

In July, he said he would be staying to move into a part-time director of cricket role and oversaw the appointment of Matt Walker as his successor as head coach.

However, the former England assistant coach – who led Sussex to promotion from Division Two in 2023 – has now opted to move to Lancashire.

“It is with mixed emotions that I am leaving Sussex after four years,” Farbrace told the club’s website, external.

“I will always be grateful to Sussex for giving me the honour of being head coach and allowing me to work with a fabulous group of players and staff.”

Farbrace’s arrival is the first significant appointment by Lancashire’s new chief executive Richard Kenyon, who promised to lead a review of the cricket operation at Emirates Old Trafford.

It is now 11 years since Lancashire won one of cricket’s main prizes – the T20 Blast in 2015 – and there has been a nagging feeling amongst the membership that focus had shifted away from the playing side to the commercial side, and also a growing relationship with the Indian backers of the Manchester Super Giants in The Hundred.

But bringing in a person of Farbrace’s experience to work above head coach Steven Croft, who has just finished his first full season in the job, is a sign that things are going to be realigned.

Since 2023, Farbrace’s first season at Sussex, the Red Rose have won only 11 of their 56 Championship matches, which includes relegation in 2024 and the last two seasons struggling in Division Two.

There was a dire run of nine losses in 10 matches this summer stretching from May to September, as only Gloucestershire kept them off the bottom of the table.

“Paul’s credentials and capability for this role were obviously very clear, but he particularly impressed us with his understanding of where the club is and what we need to do to move forward,” Kenyon told Lancashire’s website, external.

“Paul brings significant experience across both the men’s and women’s game, as well as an excellent track record of success.

“We wanted an established, high-performing director of cricket, with a strong understanding of the leagues, players and wider landscape of the game – and Paul ticks all those boxes.”

More to follow.