The mystery of Sol Campbell

The career of Sol Campbell has had many moments of controversy and confusion, but the latest twist is the strangest one so far. Earlier this week Campbell walked out on League Two Notts County after playing just one game for the club. He had signed a five year contract.

Many people were surprised when thirty-five year old Campbell joined Notts County after he was a free agent following the end of his contract at Portsmouth. However, there is a great deal of money at the club and the plans are big and ambitious. The Director of Football at the club is Sven Goran Eriksson and he was believed to be largely the reason his old England centre-half joined County. Well, that and the reported £40,000 a week he was earning.

Controversy

Campbell caused much controversy when he left Tottenham and moved just a couple of miles across North London to play for their hated neighbours Arsenal. Tottenham fans have never forgiven him for that. When he left Arsenal he said that he wanted the opportunity to play abroad. He said he wouldn’t play for another Premier League club. Then, lo and behold, he turned up at Portsmouth.

In the light of these incidents, maybe we shouldn’t be too surprised by what he has done now. One person who was surprised was Eriksson. When asked if he was disappointed and let down by Campbell’s decision, he replied,

“Yes, a little bit. I am very disappointed, very much so because we signed him and we thought we should have him for longer. But I think everyone has the same feeling, the players, the staff, the directors, the fans, because he’s a big name and a very important player.”

After recovering from injury and getting up his match fitness, Campbell made his League Two debut for Notts County in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Morecambe. His performance was, by all accounts, not brilliant and just five days later he left the club by ‘mutual consent’.

The ambitious owners and Eriksson had made a real statement of intent when they announced the signing of the man with seventy-five England caps. The latest development is a real slap in the face.

Progression

Despite the very short duration of Campbell’s stay at the club reports had suggested that he was disillusioned with the club’s rate of progression. Quite what he expected in those few weeks is not clear!

Eriksson says he has no idea why Campbell has left the club,

“I really don’t know the real reason. He didn’t like the training pitch and the dressing room and things like that but he knew that before because we showed him around before he signed. We know we are not perfect at this moment and I don’t think that would be fair at all. It is a long-term project. Since the new owners came in, the club have signed seven or eight new players – and you can’t build a new training ground in four or five weeks. It takes time to make the stadium better, it can’t be done over a weekend so I think that’s unfair. We are all sorry that he has gone but the project goes on without Sol Campbell, nothing has changed.”

The most forgotten man at Notts County, manager Ian McParland, who must be on borrowed time, was also hugely disappointed about Campbell’s departure,

“I’m disappointed because I got on well with Sol. He’s a gentleman, he’s a nice man and the lads got on really well with him. He was in that dressing room and mucking in with all the boys. I enjoyed working with him he was never a problem. I’m disappointed he’s not stayed around but that’s life. People come and go from football clubs all the time. The fans will be disappointed there’s never been a star like that here for a long time, an England captain coming here was fantastic for them.”

It is now very unlikely that Campbell will be allowed to play for anyone prior to the January transfer window. The question is, will anyone want him then?