JACK Simmons has vowed to fly back from holiday if Lancashire sit on the brink of winning the County Championship.

The Red Rose side begin their title decider at Hampshire today hoping to land their first Championship outright since 1934 They must overhaul leaders Sussex - who travel to Nottinghamshire with an eight-point advantage - to bring the coveted trophy back to Old Trafford.

And chairman Simmons insists he will cut short his holiday in Tenerife and join in the celebrations if Lancashire look poised to achieve glory.

"If we have a chance of winning the Champion-ship, I will be flying back from holiday," said Simmons. "I will want to be there.

"I'll be getting on a plane to London and then another to Southampton.

"It would be lovely to win this Championship, for everybody, the players, the coaches, our members and supporters.

"It's a big, big ask because it's in Sussex's hands. If they win and play exceedingly well at Trent Bridge, then fair enough.

"We will try our hardest. Hampshire is usually a wicket that gives a little bit of assistance.

"It usually does something and gives encouragement to the bowlers. Hopefully, it will be a result wicket because that's what we need."

Frustrated Simmons believes inclement weather during the course of the season has, once again, harmed Lancashire's bid in claiming their first Championship in 72 years.

Last week, heavy rain wiped out a full day of their Old Trafford draw with Durham, one of six games this season affected by the weather.

Title rivals Sussex have had no such bad luck.

"It rains wherever we are," said Simmons. "We've done really well this season, but the rain always scuppers us.

"We have lost up to 1,200 overs to the rain this season, compared to 175 for Sussex.

"That is a huge difference.

"But for the weather, we would have probably won three more games and the Championship going into this game."