KENT chairman Carl Openshaw is calling for a more equitable shareout of last season’s Ashes cash bonanza and from future England Test match profits.

With their coffers awash from hosting last season’s hugely successful Ashes matches, the likes of Warwickshire, Surrey, Lancashire and Nottinghamshire all look set to announce healthy profits for 2004.

Armed with fatter cheque books, the international hosting clubs may well then out-bid the lesser lights in order to attract the top-rated county players.

Without intervention from the England and Wales Cricket Board, Kent officials fear the playing field will become so uneven that they and the other non-international grounds will be unable to compete.

Mr Openshaw said: "There is increasing concern among the non Test match counties about the widening gap in available resources and I am making representations to the ECB in an endeavour to end this inequality.

"In the absence of a multi-million pound legacy, those counties which do not host Tests are limited to achieving success on the field, which may or may not lead to increased subscriptions, gate receipts or commercial revenue.

"Other than that, they are left to consider and fund ground developments in the hope they can produce a year-round income stream from non-cricketing activities."

Mr Openshaw said that last season’s record losses of £309,998 not only demonstrated the necessity to control costs, but also made the need to redevelop St Lawrence essential to the long-term viability of the club.

He added: "I assure members we are determined to confront the challenges and will strive to ensure Kent remain competitive on and off the field."

Of the other counties to have released their financial figures, Warwickshire posted a £587,385 profit after last summer’s stunning Edgbaston Ashes Test lifted club turnover beyond £10million.

Fellow Test-hosting county Nottinghamshire invested heavily in their playing staff and recorded a modest surplus of £96,776 on a £5.7million turnover.

Despite their relegation to the county championship second division, Gloucestershire recorded an £85,000 profit, while Worcestershire, who employ possibly the highest paid championship player in Graeme Hick, announced a £49,995 surplus and 25 per cent increase in gate receipts.

Sussex, who together with Kent remain the only Division 1 side not to regularly host international cricket, are also feeling the strain.

They declared £600,000 losses in 2004 and look set to announce further losses for last season after chief executive Hugh Griffiths said: "It is becoming increasingly difficult for non-Test match grounds to remain competitive on and off the fief in Division 1."

Sussex losses look set to be wiped out later this year by a £10m bequest to the county.