In a financial year in which many counties have faced financial difficulties, and Kent suffered heavy financial losses, Northamptonshire have announced a small pre-tax profit for 2009.

Mark Tagg, the chief executive, attributed the surplus to the revenue generated from the tour match against Australia during the Ashes last year and the county's run to the domestic Twenty20 finals day.

"With additional revenues coming to the club from the ECB and with the rewards of hard work involved in maximising the impact of the Australian fixture together with the Twenty20 successes, we were able to withstand a downturn in revenues which have been felt across the sports entertainment world," he said.

"We have used potential profits to reinvest in players such as Ian Harvey, who was brought in specifically to compensate for the loss of David Sales for the whole season and to cover for injuries and the loss of Niall O'Brien to Ireland during the summer."

In a trend being witnessed across the county game as counties strive to secure international fixtures and their financial futures by meeting the standards set by the ECB for hosting international matches, Northants have continued to develop their Wantage Road home ground, with new stands being built and the construction of new floodlights planned.