Adams available for talks with Hampshire

9:47am Saturday 23rd August 2008

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SUSSEX have cleared the way for Hampshire to approach Chris Adams about the vacant manager's job at the Rose Bowl.

The Sussex captain is one of the contenders to replace Paul Terry and admitted he was "flattered" to be linked with the post last week.

Former England coach Duncan Fletcher is also known to be interested and would appear a more obvious candidate.

Adams has captained Sussex to three County Championship titles in five years, but Cape Town-based Fletcher also has an impressive pedigree, having coached Glamorgan to their second title in 1997 before coaching England to the Ashes in 2005.

Hampshire chairman Rod Bransgrove is no rush to make an appointment but his Sussex counterpart, Jim May, says he will not stop Adams from discussing the vacancy.

Adams, 38, is contracted to Sussex until the end of next season but has made no secret of his desire for a new challenge after 11 years at Hove.

May admits he deserves the chance to explore new opportunities as he prepares for the end of his playing career.

"Chris has been amassive factor in the success we have had over the past few years and a magnificent captain for 11 seasons," said the Sussex chief.

"He is under contract until the end of next season but we would not feel it fair to stand in his way if other counties wanted to talk to him. It is recognition of how pivotal he has been to our success."

Adams nearly joined Yorkshire as director of cricket two years ago after May's predecessor, David Green, agreed to release him from his contract.

The strain of uprooting his family and broken promises made by Yorkshire persuadedAdams tomake a dramaticUturn.

But a move to Hampshire would be ideal for the Brighton-based 38-year-old, whose respect for what Bransgrove has achieved at the Rose Bowl is mutual.