Chris Adams was taken out of the running to become Lancashire’s new first team coach yesterday when he took up the post as Surrey’s new cricket manager.

The 38-year-old former Sussex captain was only an outsider to replace Mike Watkinson at Lancashire as he was red hot favourite to get the job at Surrey, replacing sacked Alan Butcher.

It was considered that if things fell through at the Oval, he would be so keen to get his hands on a coaching role that he could switch his attentions to the Lancashire post.

But the man who led Sussex for 11 years before stepping down at the end of last season, was released from the final year of his playing contract at Hove and will now take responsibility for all aspects of professional cricket at The Oval, with the county having revamped their management structure following this year’s county championship relegation.