John Crawley could be free to join Hampshire on Monday.

Former England batsman Crawley, 30, has offered Lancashire around £35,000 to buy his way out of the remaining three seasons of his contract after an ECB appeals panel rejected his claim of constructive dismissal a fortnight ago.

Lancashire CCC's general committee will decide whether to accept the offer when they meet in two days' time.

Hampshire chairman Rod Bransgrove said: "We're keeping an eye on the situation but it's not really our business until John becomes a free agent."

If Lancashire accept the offer Crawley will follow in the footsteps of Aftab Habib, who joined Essex yesterday after making the unprecedented decision to buy out the last year of his contract at Leicestershire.

Bransgrove added: "We spoke to Aftab but he has relatives in Essex and that influenced his decision."

Crawley, who won the last of his 29 Test caps in Sydney three years ago, has been with Lancashire for 11 years but is desperate to move away from Old Trafford after being replaced as captain by Warren Hegg.

Hegg, though, wants Crawley to stay. He said: "I don't want John to leave, I'd like to make that clear. John and I go back a long way and as far as I'm concerned he's one of the best players in England still.

"He would strengthen our batting order beyond belief if he stayed. John knows how I feel and that I am totally behind him staying at the club."

Mike Watkinson, who took over as Lancashire coach at the end of last season, has joined Hegg in backing Crawley.

He said: "I was looking forward to being a coach with John in the side. He's a valuable asset to the team and an integral part of the set up at Lancashire. John may be looking for fast answers and if he needs them I'm sure he'll get them with something as significant as this."