Kent are seeking arbitration with the England and Wales Cricket Board over the decision to keep them in Division Two of the Specsavers County Championship.

The ECB ruled that Hampshire should retain their top-flight status next year rather than promote Division Two runners-up Kent after financially-stricken Durham were relegated as a condition applied in their £3.8million bail-out.

Kent quickly took issue with that arrangement, described by their chairman George Kennedy as "plumb wrong" - but the governing body clarified it was one taken "in line with the two-down, one-up relegation and promotion rules for this season's county championship".

All counties, players and supporters were made aware before the start of the 2016 season that, for one summer only in order to achieve a new structure, just one team would be promoted from Division Two - with two going down as usual.

Kent, however, believe extraordinary circumstances have since arisen.

Following a report in The Times revealing the club's lawyers have written to the ECB describing the decision as "prejudiced, perverse and contrary to natural justice", Kennedy confirmed that letter has been sent and that he met with ECB chairman Colin Graves last week.

He said: "We have (sent the letter) - they would have received it yesterday.

"We have asked for arbitration in the situation, and we'll see what comes of that."

Kennedy and his ECB counterpart discussed the situation a week ago, but Kennedy believes a number of new factors have since come to his notice.

Several are detailed in the Times report, which Kennedy has endorsed, including the assertion that Durham were told in May they would be relegated at the end of the season. Kent have requested a reply from ECB within seven days.

"It was an amicable meeting - we were able to exchange opinions," Kennedy said of his audience with Graves.

"One or two things have come to light since then, so we thought we would bring it to a head - and that is exactly what we've done."

The ECB confirmed they had received the letter, but again outlined that championship rules dictated one side being promoted and two relegated.

"We can confirm receipt of a letter from Kent county cricket club regarding the issue of promotion and relegation," said an ECB spokesperson.

"Last week's decision to relegate Durham - with Hampshire remaining in the first division of the Specsavers County Championship - was in line with the two-down, one-up relegation and promotion rules for this season's county championship which were notified to all counties and published prior to start of the 2016 season.

"We are currently considering our response to Kent's letter and will reply to them in due course."

Durham responded to the Times report with a statement saying: "Contrary to today's press report, Durham county cricket club can confirm that they were not told in May that the club would be relegated at the end of the season."