Mark Robinson returns to Sussex as part-time director of cricket

Mark Robinson has returned to Sussex as director of cricket, taking a part-time position at a club where he previously spent five years as a player and a decade as head coach. BBC Sport reported the appointment on Thursday, with the 59-year-old also continuing his work as director of cricket at Brighton Aldridge Community Academy.

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The appointment follows the departure of Paul Farbrace, who had been expected to move from Sussex head coach into the director of cricket role. Instead, Farbrace joined Lancashire last month amid financial difficulties at Hove. Robinson's return gives the county a director with extensive experience of Sussex, while the part-time arrangement allows him to retain his academy responsibilities.

The financial backdrop remains significant. According to the BBC, Sussex required an emergency bailout from the England and Wales Cricket Board after recording a £1.3 million trading loss in 2025. The county was also penalised for sustained operating losses, receiving a 12-point deduction in the County Championship and losing one point in each of the white-ball competitions.

Robinson's earlier spell in charge brought success across several formats. He led Sussex to Division One County Championship titles in 2006 and 2007, alongside the Friends Provident Trophy in 2006. His side also won the Pro40 National League in both 2008 and 2009, and lifted the Twenty20 Cup in 2009, giving his previous coaching tenure a record of both red-ball and limited-overs trophies.

His achievements since that period have included leading England Women to the 2017 World Cup title and coaching Warwickshire to the Division One County Championship crown in 2021. Those successes add international and further county experience to the background he brings back to Hove. Sussex's acting chief executive, Alex Paterson, welcomed the appointment and expressed strong confidence in Robinson as the choice for the position.

In comments to the club website carried by the BBC, Robinson acknowledged the difficulties Sussex had experienced over the past year and said further work was needed. He recalled first joining in 1997, after the loss of many senior players and the captain, and helping the club build towards later success. He said work towards rebuilding had already begun and expressed his determination to contribute to Sussex's future.