Lancashire head coach Dale Benkenstein believes the club must recruit experienced players if they are to have any hope of securing promotion back to County Championship Division One next season.
Lancashire's relegation was confirmed after they failed to win their final match of the season against Worcestershire. The team that played in that game featured five players aged 23 or younger.
Benkenstein, in an interview with BBC Radio Lancashire, stressed that the team needs more seasoned players to compete at the level required for a return to Division One.
Finishing 21 points behind Nottinghamshire, Lancashire faced relegation for the fourth time since winning the Championship in 2011. The team suffered six losses, including three consecutive innings defeats in August and early September, leaving them with too much ground to cover in the final two games.
A major issue for Lancashire was their batting performance, with the team collecting just 15 batting bonus points throughout the season. Other than captain Keaton Jennings, no other batter averaged above 40 runs. The departure of former captain Dane Vilas and the retirement of Steven Croft from red-ball cricket left significant gaps in the middle order, which were never adequately filled.
The young squad, including 16-year-old Rocky Flintoff—son of former England captain Andrew Flintoff—was thrust into a challenging environment, making their development particularly difficult. Benkenstein remarked that the loss of experienced players in key positions had a significant impact, especially against the seasoned teams in Division One. He added that the team also struggled to secure top-quality overseas players for extended periods, which placed extra pressure on the younger players.
Reflecting on the situation, Benkenstein acknowledged that developing young players in such a competitive league is a tough task, but they now have a clear understanding of the level they need to reach. However, he highlighted that some gaps cannot be filled by youth alone, and the club will need to bring in experienced overseas players to provide balance and help the team perform better next season.
Benkenstein, who took over as head coach last December following Glen Chapple's departure, now faces the challenge of guiding Lancashire back to Division One. On previous occasions when they were relegated, Lancashire achieved promotion at the first attempt, adding pressure for a swift return. Balancing the development of young players with the need for winning performances will be key to their success moving forward.