Surrey secure Adams as cricket manager

After much negotiation Chris Adams, the former Sussex captain and batsman, has joined Surrey as their professional cricket manager on a three-year deal.

"I am delighted to join Surrey at this stage. Although there is sadness that I won't walk out again as a player, that is overridden by my desire to take on this new challenge," Adams said. "It is a huge privilege for me to leave one role and walk straight into this amazing opportunity. Surrey are a big club with some high performing players and I look forward to working alongside the guys as we look to bring long-term success back to The Oval.

"There is nothing more rewarding than leading a group of men to great success. I've done that as a captain and now intend to do it again as a manager."

Adams' move from Hove was on the cards ever since Gus MacKay quit as Sussex's chief executive at the end of September to take up the post of Surrey's managing director. Adams was shortlisted for the vacancy at Hove but lost out to David Brooks. And although his move to management has been viewed as almost inevitable, even this week he remained uncertain about switching allegiance when he told The Guardian that he had "hugely split feelings. Leaving the county has been incredibly difficult".

Adams, who led Sussex to three Championship titles in 2003, 2006 and 2007, has a big task on his hands to turn around Surrey's fortunes. The club were relegated at the end of last season and their coach, Alan Butcher, departed over the winter. But in renewing his alliance with Mackay, there is hope that one of England's biggest clubs can once again become a force to be reckoned with.

"Securing Chris' services after what was a very thorough recruitment process is fantastic for the club," Mackay said. "His experience, expertise and work ethic is exactly what we need to help instill a culture that will help us become a successful club once more.

"From his time at Sussex he knows a thing or two about winning trophies and I'm confident that he is the man to bring these winning ways back to Surrey in the coming years. We firmly believe that we need strong leadership off the field during this period of rebuilding and Chris is a natural leader of people. I wish him every success."