Mick Newell: 'What happened here leaves a lot to be asked about some of our players' © Getty Images Enlarge

The season after being crowned champions, Nottinghamshire's relegation was confirmed as Yorkshire and Durham played out a high-scoring draw at Headingley. It represents a huge shock for Nottinghamshire, who needed just seven points from their final two matches to survive

However, they lost on the final day to Yorkshire in their penultimate match - as they were spun out by Adil Rashid and Mark Lawson - before capitulating against Sussex and collecting just one point at Trent Bridge.

Survival was then out of their hands and they needed Yorkshire to beat Durham on the final day of the Championship season. But a Garry Park century ensured both northern teams stayed in the first division.

Mick Newell, the Nottinghamshire director of cricket, had already conceded they were down following the innings defeat to Sussex on Friday. "I would hope the players are disappointed. We have got to spend the next six months putting it right."

"They should be very upset, because it is an embarrassment and we should never have been in this position," he added. "This is the lowest point of my career, much worse than when we were relegated in 2003.

Newell said the players need to take a long hard look at themselves: "It wasn't asking a lot for the players to get what amounted to seven points over two matches to stay up.

"But the events of the last day of our previous match against Yorkshire and what happened here, leaves a lot to be asked about some of our players."

Nottinghamshire are already starting to rebuild ahead of next season with the signing of Will Jefferson from Essex and he is expected to be the first of, up to, four significant names to join club in the near future.