Exit AMP, here comes the Brit Oval

Surrey have signed a new sponsorship deal which could be worth as much as £2.5m to the club.

Brit Insurance Holdings have agreed to back the club for three years, with the option for a further two, at an annual cost of £500,000. In addition, Surrey are all set to begin work on their £24m redevelopment of their ground, which will be re-named The Brit Oval.

"This new partnership could not have come at a better time," said Paul Sheldon, the club's chief executive. "The support we will now receive will ensure that The Brit Oval maintains its pre-eminence as one of the world's leading Test venues."

The redevelopment work will be concentrated at the Vauxhall End of the ground, where a new stand will increase the overall capacity by 4000 seats, to 23000.