My worry (and it's a serious worry) is that if Yorkshire get relegated, it will result in a bleed-off of some of the younger players, or those looking for a higher profile (read: England aspirations). Just look at Worcestershire, who have seen several key players leave the team since they were demoted.
Besides, County cricket gets precious little coverage in the media as it is, and what there is is virtually confined to the first division teams. If you aspire to getting an England contract or want to move your career forward, the second division is not an ideal staging point.
Thus, getting demoted may make it very difficult for Yorkshire to keep ambitious types like Shahzad and Hoggard, and will almost certainly hurt the bottom line in terms of walk-up attendance and memberships. In fact, I think both Hoggy and Shazzy are waiting to see which division Yorkshire will be playing in before they sign on for next year.
It will also be more than a little embarrassing to be staging Tests, when the stadium's "home team" is languishing in the second tier in all major domestic competitions.
Middlesex and Surrey don't seem to be particularly embarrassed and second division status didn't prevent Glamorgan being allocated an Ashes test when Durham as County Champions were given the West Indies.
Don't think it will make any difference to membership or attendendances ... it didn't last time ... & it could give our young lads time to come through without continually having the fear that losing will relegate us
I think our younger players would be more likely to play for England if we were in the second division. The standard is lower and so averages are higher, so the selectors think the players are great. Strauss, Cook, Bopara, Shah: all second division.