There is a meeting of the 18 county chairmen and chief executives with the ECB next Wednesday where the board hopes to gain consensus on change. A formal vote on changing the constitution of the ECB, which currently states all 18 counties have the right to play in any tournament, will be taken in the autumn. The ECB hopes it will be able to approach broadcasters and begin a formal tender process for the new league by the first quarter of 2017.

For those counties struggling financially, the prospect of an extra £1.5m annual payment on top of the £1.8m they already receive from the ECB will be hugely tempting, particularly if they can retain their own Friday night Twenty20 competition.

It will be attractive to those Test match grounds struggling with large debts and currently unable to sell out their grounds regularly for the Natwest Blast. They will receive £1.8m with no risk attached. It will help ease the burden of debt.

But for a club such as Surrey, which sells out the Oval for Twenty20 games, the financial package on offer will not be so attractive if they are unable to play in the new tournament under their current name.