Sussex CCC: Ali Orr's move to Hampshire criticised by ex-captain Chris Adams
- Published
Chris Adams (centre with trophy) captained Sussex to the 2003 County Championship title
Former Sussex captain Chris Adams has described the club's release of Ali Orr to Hampshire as "reckless" at best and "unforgivable" at worst.
Orr, 22, had one year left to run on his contract at Hove.
Adams and Ian Gould, both ex-Sussex players, resigned from their backroom positions at the county on Monday and said Orr's departure played a part.
"What messages does that send to the rest of the squad and the membership?" Adams told BBC Radio Sussex.
"What message does it send to the other 17 counties? That we are prepared to release our young, developing, incredibly well thought of talent - where does that stop?
"At best it's a reckless decision and at worst it's unforgivable."
Adams captained Sussex to the County Championship title in 2003 and also held the cricket manager role at Surrey prior to Alec Stewart.
He returned to Hove last year as a special adviser to the cricket committee on which Gould, who was also a board member, served.
Adams said he only heard that Orr was leaving on Sunday.
"My disappointment on this occasion is, only a few months ago, I was party to conversations where a young player was very much part of the plans for the future and the head coach [Paul Farbrace] talked positively about him," Adams said.
"In my [other] role as an England scout, I'm constantly looking at players. Ali is definitely one of those players.
"He's a fabulous talent and for us to very quickly - in a short space of time - reach a conclusion that he should be released from his contract and then be allowed to sign for our neighbours down the road is a bitter disappointment.
"There was a significant decision made on Monday and that decision alone was more than enough for me to withdraw from my position."
Orr is talked about at 'England level'
Orr averages just under 40 in first-class cricket and came through the youth ranks at Sussex, as did Tom Haines, 25, with whom he opened the batting.
"Whichever way you look at it, it makes absolutely no positive sense for the club in any manner, shape or form," Adams added.
"One of the great positives of the last 24 months has been the opening partnership of Orr and Haines.
"Both those players are on the radar with England, England Lions and talked about at that level.
"They were forming a formidable partnership at the top of the order which could and should have been in place for all three formats."
Tom Haines (left) and Ali Orr (right) both came through the Sussex youth ranks
Sussex chairman Jon Filby told BBC Radio Sussex on Tuesday that he did not believe it was fair to say Orr's Hampshire move was the reason for the resignations.
Adams sought to clarify that, although Orr's decision was the "catalyst", he also had growing concerns about the running of the club.
"There are layers to it. It's not straightforward and this was not an overnight decision," Adams said.
"I understand for Ian Gould as well that there have been frustrations for a while, that we both shared, in terms of the management of the cricket committee and subsequent decisions for the running of the club.
"Not to say that how the decisions were made is wrong but certainly from my own position, as an independent adviser, I would say that 95% of the decisions made in the last year, I haven't been party to any consultation or prior discussion to those decisions.
"So my point for some time to Jon was: why have me sit on that committee, invite me in off the back of the experience I have and my knowledge and understanding of what a winning environment looks like and how to make the best decisions to that purpose, to not consult appropriately in the chain of making decisions?"
'That is not a good decision'
Filby suggested to BBC Radio Sussex on Tuesday that there had been tensions between Farbrace and Orr.
While Adams agreed that there should be one person, the head coach, making the cricketing decisions, he said that the remit should have a limit.
"I was definitely an advocate of bringing Paul in, and he made a very impressive start to the season - there's no reason to suggest that that won't continue into next year," Adams said.
"Certainly of late, since Paul came on board, he definitely has complete autonomy in terms of decision making and I do favour the head coach being accountable for his decisions without a doubt.
"I have no issue with that at all, but what's the point of having a cricket committee if it is not looking at it both objectively and subjectively in terms of making the best decisions for the club?
"To a large degree [the coach] should be supported in making those decisions - there is a line though where you have to say 'that is not a good decision'. And ultimately my understanding is that over time the buck does stop with the chairman."
Sussex have come in for criticism in recent years from a number of former players about the running of the club and the number of young players leaving for other counties.
Adams added that he was initially told Orr would not be one of those players to leave.
"I can't think of any chairman in any sport that would have turned around and said initially this is not happening - to back down on that based on the decision of the coach," Adams said.
"That to me is incredibly disappointing and that's what I took from Jon's interview on Tuesday [with BBC Radio Sussex] that that was the case scenario.
"I haven't had the full account but it is incredibly worrying and disappointing.
"I like Jon. I have supported him through many challenges over the last two years.
"I know that he has been put in a terribly difficult position on this occasion, and I have great empathy for him, but I have told him that he has made the wrong decision and I'll stand by that."
I wanted Ali to stay - Farbrace
BBC Radio Sussex asked Farbrace for his response on the matter and the former England coach said: "I wanted Ali to stay but we couldn't meet the amount the agent wanted.
"We had a disagreement at Derby but patched it up. It's really disappointing. There is no bad blood and people are making more of the incident in the game at Derby.
"We couldn't agree to the finances and, as far as I'm concerned, that is why we allowed Ali's agent to have a 10-day window to speak to someone else.
"When they came back with the Hants offer the player's mind was made up that was it."
On the resignations of Adams and Gould and the comments from former players on social media, Farbrace added: "I'm disappointed Ian (Gould) and Chris (Adams) have left.
"They've been supportive and complimentary with me. Maybe there are lessons for us all to learn out of the situation. I don't want to lose our best young players.
"As for former players I have no problem with them airing their views. I'd gladly chat through situations with any former player that has views about this club.
"We all want the same thing, we want the club to be successful. I'm heavily invested in the job in front of us and I care passionately."
Chris Adams and Paul Farbrace were talking to BBC Radio Sussex's Adrian Harms.