Hampshire head coach Craig White believes the Specsavers County Championship is too harsh on the first division teams.

There will be no shortage of interest as Hampshire try to preserve their first division status in the final week of the season for the third successive year.

But White believes that relegating two teams from a first division reduced to eight counties for the first time this season is too many.

Speaking after Hampshire’s 108-run defeat against county champions Essex - their third-ever loss after enforcing the follow-on - he said: “Essex ran away with it brilliantly this year and deserve it.

“But if it had been closer you could have got a situation where the same team could either win the title or be relegated going into the final round of the season.

“I think that’s very harsh. With the format this year - 25 per cent of the division going down - it was always going to be a bunfight.

“We hoped we wouldn’t be in it but we’re in it now.

“We find ourselves in a real battle. It’s a very harsh division, probably too harsh, but we’re in that position and have to get ourselves out of it.”

Hampshire have a 13-point advantage over second-from-bottom Somerset going into the final round of games.

A draw may be enough for Hampshire to beat the drop, even if Somerset beat Middlesex at Taunton (Middlesex are only three points above Hampshire, while Yorkshire are not completely safe either).

But White warned: “If you go in with that mindset you’ll come unstuck, we’ve seen that happen a few times over the years.

“Warwickshire have nothing to lose and will want to finish season on a high to take into next year.

“Every team in division one is very good, anyone can beat anyone on their day so we have to make sure we play well.

“The boys need to turn up.”

Hampshire needed 185 to win in 67 overs after Essex, having started the final day on 247-5, were bowled out for 362 following a ninth-wicket stand of 82 between Neil Wagner and James Foster.

But Hampshire were bowled out for 76, as Essex were in their first innings.

It was their first defeat after enforcing the follow on since Essex’s last Championship-winning team achieved the feat at Bournemouth in 1992.

“We were hoping to chase a few less, maybe around 120-130, although that would have been tough the way they bowled,” admitted White.

“We bowled well at the start of the day but that partnership took the wind out of our sails.

“We have been inconsistent, and we have just had a chat about that now.

“Everyone needs to take a look at themselves and find out why we keep losing clumps of wickets. It needs addressing.”