Hampshire head coach Russell Domingo says the whole club needs a "reset" after their relegation from Division One.

A five-wicket defeat to Leicestershire on Friday confirmed their return to Division Two for the first time since winning promotion in 2014.

Hampshire avoided relegation in 2025 by a single point before bringing in Domingo on a two-year deal in December to replace Adi Birrell .

Domingo told BBC Radio Solent: "This team has got to reset and refresh in all departments, and that process has got to start pretty soon.

"We don't deserve to be in Division One, that's the bottom line. We haven't been good enough from day one, so a lot of soul searching and how we move forward needs to take place.

"It's not just the players. The coaches have to take a long hard look at ourselves and the way we do things, and try and get better. I suppose the organisation as a whole has got to look at trying to do this better."

Hampshire's bowling options were depleted for various reasons over the summer, with injuries to pace bowlers Brad Wheal and John Turner, who was forced to retire this summer aged just 25.

In addition to that, Sonny Baker was away with England following his Test debut against New Zealand in June and international spinner Liam Dawson announced his retirement from the red-ball game in May.

"I think we're a little bit short of experience," said Domingo.

"We've had some players who've played a lot of games with pretty mediocre performances that have been given opportunities and maybe we need to move past them.

"We need to look at facilities, the wickets we're playing on at home and we're training on. We need to look at our recruitment and our overseas players".

Hampshire had issues with their overseas players this season with Australia's Michael Neser signed for their opening six Championship matches before being withdrawn in March by Cricket Australia.

New Zealand all-rounder Scott Kuggeleijn was brought in for the final four Championship matches in September, but the club made a U-turn after "feedback from staff and supporters".

Kuggeleijn, 34, faced a rape charge in 2015 and after a re-trial due to a hung jury he was acquitted in 2017.

"We ended up with one overseas player this season which has been very hard," said Domingo.

"There's been so many things that have happened, with players coming, and then not coming. We need to secure players for next season and secure them pretty early so we can plan around those overseas players as well."

Hampshire Hawks reached the final of the T20 Blast before losing to Northamptonshire and while Domingo said it had been nice to reach the showpiece event "it doesn't really count for much".

He said the whole club needed to focus on the red-ball game "where you want to get judged".

"This team is in a bit of a transition, there's no doubt. All teams go through cycles. This has been a really good team in a lot of formats across the last decade, but it needs a reset and a refresh," Domingo said.

"I think going down to the second division might be the best thing that could have happened to this group. You look at Nottinghamshire a few years ago, they went through a similar thing.

"We need to strengthen because we don't want to be in Division Two for long. I'm positive we can get back to the top division if we just do things a little better."

Domingo has given his backing to skipper Ben Brown who was appointed red-ball captain ahead of the 2025 season.

"As the captain and the leader of the team he gives absolutely everything", Domingo added. "He's extremely driven and wants this team to do well.

"He'll probably be the first to admit 'maybe I could have done this differently or that differently' but we can all say that."

Hampshire's final game of the season is against Sussex at the Utilita Bowl, which starts on Thursday.

Live text and ball-by-ball radio commentary of the final round of County Championship matches will be available across the BBC website and BBC Sounds.