Sussex have appointed long-serving committee member Ken Hopkins in succession to Caffyn, 63, whose seven-year reign came to an end after he pinned much of the blame for a mass exodus of players from Hove on former county captain Alan Wells.

Pigott has forced a special general meeting on April 8, when there will be a vote of no confidence in the committee. He said: ``I can confirm I would like to become chairman. The future of Sussex is at stake and new blood and new ideas are urgently needed.

``I welcome Mr Caffyn's resignation but what faces the members now is more of the same or a chance to take the club forward. I feel the whole committee's position is now untenable. There's no way back for them and by appointing Ken Hopkins as chairman they've played into my hands.''

Pigott, 38, who served Sussex for 18 years, said he felt Caffyn's position became untenable when committee member Richard Barrow quit on Tuesday with a furious blast at his colleagues.

He added: ``Sussex's big problem is their management style. It's inward looking, lacking direction and communication and lacking effective man-management skills. I would like to come in and restructure the club, with everything based on doing what is best for Sussex.''

Dickie Bird, England's most famous umpire, has reluctantly backed Yorkshire's proposal to end more than a century of cricket at Headingley.

Today 10,000 Yorkshire members will be balloted at the annual meeting in Leeds on a move to a #45 million purpose-built stadium at Durkar near Wakefield.

Bird played for Yorkshire in the 1950s before embarking on a 30year umpiring career which ends this year. He said: ``I have some very happy memories of Headingley as a player and as a Test umpire, but if the new ground comes off it's in an ideal position.''

Australian Test all-rounder Brendon Julian will be Surrey's overseas player this summer for the second successive season.