'Anything's possible for Hampshire' - Domingo

New Hampshire head coach Russell Domingo says if his side start well in the County Championship then "anything is possible" this coming season.

The former South Africa and Bangladesh head coach replaced Adi Birrell who left at the end of last season after a seven-year spell at the Utilita Bowl.

Hampshire have only won the County Championship twice in their history, and last lifted the title in 1973.

Domingo is hoping that he can be the man to come in and change their fortunes, beginning with a game against Essex on Friday.

"If you can start a campaign really well, anything's possible," the 51-year-old told BBC South Today.

"I know there's a long history of this county having not won a County Championship but at some stage it's going to change and at some stage it's going to happen.

"We don't want to put too much stress and pressure on the team, we want to focus on the style of cricket we play and the way we go about our business.

"But who knows, maybe three or four weeks to go we're sort of in the reckoning and can then start talk about winning that Championship but there's a lot of cricket still to be played before we get there."

Domingo, who also coaches South African side Lions, was previously head coach of South Africa for five years from 2012.

He signed a two-year-deal at Hampshire across all formats in December and is supported by former Scotland head coach Shane Burger as bowling coach and ex-club captain Jimmy Adams who remains batting coach.

As well as his close relationship with Birrell, Domingo says that part of his decision to join Hampshire was helped by his love of English football.

"I'm a big fan of the English Premier League where there are five big clubs," he said in the BBC Radio Solent fan forum.

"In English county cricket, Hampshire is one of the big five and when you get an opportunity to coach at a club like this it's hard to not look at it seriously.

"I think that any coach that is worth his salt at some stage wants to coach at county level, it's a great opportunity for me and something I'm really looking forward to doing."

Red-ball captain Ben Brown believes last season's dramatic escape from relegation is something they should learn from.

Hampshire narrowly avoided relegation on the final day following Durham's collapse against Yorkshire.

They were not helped by a six-point deduction for a sub-standard pitch during May's game against Sussex.

Brown is hoping that performances on the pitch this season can help to keep them well clear of any trouble.

"In a sense it was the ideal wake-up call really," he said.

"We had 24 hours where we thought we were relegated and all the emotion that came with that, it was tough.

"I was licking my wounds at the time to be honest and had given up watching the Durham game completely, but after I saw the result I made my way back to Winchester for a beer, it was a crazy 24 hours.

"It 100% fuels us going into this season, I think this year probably does feel like a fresh start and we've got lots to be excited about."