Disappointment at Yorkshire's recent decline but optimism over what the future will bring was voiced by captain, Darren Gough, and Director of Cricket, Martyn Moxon, after the season came to an unexpectedly abrupt end at Headingley Carnegie on Saturday.

On a morning of blue skies and warm sunshine, spectators were already gathering an hour before the start of the final day's play in the Championship tussle with Hampshire.

But, to their amazement, Gough had already shaken hands with Hampshire captain, Shane Warne, and 30 minutes later the visitors' team coach was rolling out of Headingley.

Water from the previous day's torrential rain had seeped under the covers at the Kirkstall Lane end and as soon as it was mopped up it came to the surface again.

Umpires Peter Hartley and Rob Bailey felt that the bowlers' run-ups were in a dangerous condition and agreed to abandon the match - a decision that dismayed the fans.

Gough said that he, too, was very disappointed that there could be no play but he described conditions at the top end of the square as "horrendous".

"Groundsman Andy Fogarty said he couldn't get things ready before 4.30 and there was no point in sitting around all day when there was no chance of getting a result or of either side moving up or down the table," he added.

The Championship boiled to a thrilling climax with Sussex retaining the title after Lancashire's attempt to beat Surrey and steal the crown just failed.

But Surrey's win meant they climbed above Yorkshire, who, after setting the pace for much of the season, finished sixth, the same as last year when they escaped relegation by the skin of their teeth.

Gough said he felt it had been a significant achievement to go into the last match of the season still with a chance of taking the title, but they had suffered through being unable to keep the same squad together in the closing weeks.

They were weakened in the penultimate match against Sussex at Hove when they were without both himself and Jason Gillespie.

They had also probably been only one win away from gaining promotion in the NatWest Pro40 League.

Moxon acknowledged that they had not played well over the last three weeks and that the slide had started with the NatWest Pro40 defeat by Surrey at Scarborough.

"It is a shame because we stand here now disappointed but the important thing is not to forget all the good stuff earlier in the season and I am certain we have something to build on for next year," he said.

"The bottom line is that we must show more consistent form for all five months of the season to win trophies and unfortunately we have fallen away towards the end.

"But I have seen enough this season to give us optimism for the future and our form early on shows what we are capable of achieving. The key is to maintain consistency and to cut out the really bad performances in one-day and four-day cricket.

"If we can do that we will be challenging again next year - and with only one overseas signing allowed there will certainly be opportunities for younger players to stake their claims and it will be interesting to see how they respond."