Wednesday 9 November 2016 22:46, UK
England Lions batsman Keaton Jennings could invoke the relegation clause he inserted into his four-year contract with troubled Durham.
Durham were relegated to Specsavers County Championship Division Two and hit with points deductions in all formats for next season, as well as losing their Test status, after accepting a financial bailout from the England and Wales Cricket Board.
Jennings, a left-handed opening batsman, was the leading run-scorer in Division One last summer after hitting 1,548 runs at an average of 64.5.
His breakthrough summer featured seven hundreds, including a double century against Yorkshire, to help secure his call-up to the England Lions squad this winter.
The 24-year-old, who was named cricket writers' player of the year for 2016, said his immediate focus was on the Lions' tour to the United Arab Emirates and he has not yet made a decision on his county future.
"At the end of the day everything's open. But it [leaving] is not something I would like to happen, because I love Durham and the guys at Durham," he said.
"It's been a long summer and I've got a lot of thinking to do over the next two or three weeks and a lot of conversations to have.
"At the moment I'm really excited to be here, with the Lions. I'm really excited for the next month or two and I want to focus on that first."
Jennings' contract extension was announced in August, before the extent of Durham's troubles became fully apparent.
They only made their county debut in 1992 and have been one of the most successful clubs in the past decade.
However, they begin next season with a 48-point deduction in Division Two, while key men Scott Borthwick and Mark Stoneman have both agreed moves to Surrey.
It has been suggested the Championship captaincy, held by former England international Paul Collingwood, could be used as a lure to retain Jennings but he insisted the leadership was not a deciding factor in his future.
It's been a long summer and I've got a lot of thinking to do over the next two or three weeks and a lot of conversations to have.
"There have been discussions but nothing's been decided, from Colly's point of view either," added Jennings.
"I've never been a guy to put a club under the pump and say 'if you don't give me the captaincy, I'm going to leave'.
"For me, whatever's right for the team must happen. If it's right that I'm captain, then I'll captain.
"If it's not right, I'm more than happy to provide a supporting role."
