Durham managed to win a Championship in 2013 while appealing to public bodies for a financial bale out, so they have proved beyond doubt that money is not everything, but there will be rumblings of concern in the north-east at the financial pressures which could drive one of their most promising all-rounders, Ryan Pringle, away from the county.

That unease will be all the stronger because Pringle has not been tempted by one of the wealthier First Division clubs, but by two unsung suitors in Derbyshire and Northants, the former reeling from an unexpectedly grim Second Division campaign, the latter who have financial issues of their own. Durham have now belatedly made Pringle an improved offer and are sweating on the outcome.

Named Durham's Young Player of the Year at the end of last season, Pringle did much to pronounce himself a genuine all-rounder in his first full season when he broke into the Championship side midway through the 2015 season.

Derbyshire have played down talk of a move. "Whilst the club continues to look at options to strengthen its squad and does not usually comment on any speculation, due to the specific nature of this claim, the club would like to state that no approach has been made and the player has not signed for Derbyshire.

Durham have not one unsettled young spin-bowling allrounder, but two, with Essex talking to the England U-19 player Adam Hickey as they seek to build their slow bowling options following the release of Monty Panesar.

In view of the recent retirement of another offspinner, Gareth Breese, Durham's spin bowling resources could be highly stretched - they rarely bowl Scott Borthwick's legspin these days - and leave them particularly vulnerable away from Emirates ICG as they seek to maintain a Division One status held since 2006.

Pringle struck a top score of 99 against Hampshire in September, as well as claiming 20 wickets at 28.30, and would have made his maiden Championship century at the Ageas Bowl if - as he tells it - he has not been adjudged caught off his helmet.

Durham cut salary costs by around £1m before the 2014 season, as debts in their holding company advanced past £5m. They staged a lucrative Ashes Test the previous summer, but only after receiving more than £5m in loans from Durham County Council, the North-East Local Enterprise Partnership (the latter at commercial interest rates of 7.5%) and the ECB.

Their chances of hosting the bigger Tests are also severely threatened by the vast improvements made at Old Trafford and by the gradual upgrading of Headingley, where Yorkshire's two successive Championships have sharpened regional pride. International cricket in Chester-le-Street was a catalyst for change in the north, but competing with Yorkshire and Lancashire both on the up, competing in the future will be a challenging task.