HAMPSHIRE chairman Rod Bransgrove has not ruled out signing more Kolpak players.

The signings of Rilee Rossouw and Kyle Abbott, who gave up their South Africa careers to play for the county earlier this year, provoked much criticism.

Fidel Edwards is another Kolpak addition, while Brad Wheal is undergoing the England qualification process after moving from South Africa last year.

Bransgrove said Liam Dawson’s rise to England’s Test side - the Hampshire all-rounder will also play in the second Test against South Africa at Trent Bridge on Friday - “flies in the face somewhat of those cynics who call us ‘Kolpakshire’” before admitting Rossouw and Abbott may not be the last.

He said: “There is a financial implication to having more than two Kolpak players but the primary consideration must be to have the right balance in the squad for developing young players and for winning things.

“You can either plunder other counties or you can take them from another country through the Kolpak route.

“But you do have to have role models in the team for younger, more up-and-coming players to help them grow into the types of players that Dawson and [James] Vince are becoming.

“I wouldn’t have any hesitation about whether he’s a Kolpak player or whether he’s an English player.

“I think it’s totally irrelevant. What we have to consider is the financial impact of playing too many Kolpaks in one team.”

Rossouw and Abbott were two of several Kolpak signings made earlier this year as counties exploited the EU loophole that Brexit is expected to close.

Counties receive cash incentives for fielding up to nine English-qualified players.

They get more for up to three Under-26 players (£1,200 per match for each player) and more still if they are under 22 (£2,000 per player, per match).

The recent influx may see the ECB increase these incentives, but for Bransgrove the progress of Dawson vindicates the signings of EU passport/Kolpak players.

It is impossible to quantify exactly how much influence the likes of Nic Pothas, Neil McKenzie and Sean Ervine have had on his development, but it has certainly been considerable.

“We’ve developed a side which has a combination of mature and homemade players, we’ll continue to do that in our way and we’re very proud when it comes to fruition,” added Bransgrove.