Essex County Cricket Club is currently facing a tough season, with the possibility of relegation to Division Two of the County Championship looming large. The team is second from the bottom in Division One, having secured only one win from nine games this season. The bottom two teams in the division are set to be relegated.

Dan Feist, the chief executive of Essex, recently spoke to BBC Essex about the situation. "It's definitely a possibility and you have to plan around that process," Feist stated. "But it's a possibility for a number of teams in that division, I've not known it to be as competitive as it is this year."

Essex's only Championship victory since Chris Silverwood's return as director of cricket came in April when they beat Worcestershire by 28 runs at Chelmsford. Additionally, the team is at the bottom of the South Group in the T20 Blast, with only one win in 11 games. They have three more games to play, starting with a home fixture against Sussex on Friday, followed by a match at Hove when the Championship resumes on July 22.

Despite the challenging position, Feist remains optimistic about the future. "We've got a good run of opportunities, no one knows quite what's going to happen in the next two rounds (of the Championship)," he said. "The one thing we do know is that we are very lucky with the loyal fans and the support we have as Essex."

Feist also emphasized that Essex is not alone in this struggle. "I don't think it's just us, I think there's a group of teams in that division who are potentially aware of where they could end up," he noted. "We know we've got the players and with a little bit more fortune and consistency, we will be back up where we know we can be."

Relegation would have financial implications for Essex, who last played in the second division in 2016. However, Feist assured that there is no need for panic. "We'd have to manage around stakeholders and partners, you have to be aware of that," he explained. "It's the same as any sporting organisation that has the opportunities around promotion and relegation, it's something you have to build on."

Dan Feist was speaking to Victoria Polley on BBC Essex's Around The Wicket. You can listen to the full programme on BBC Sounds here.