Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Campbell can leave Notts County

Sol Campbell
Campbell changed his mind after just one game in a County shirt

Notts County will not stand in Sol Campbell's way if he is determined to leave, BBC Sport understands.

The ex-England centre-back is believed to have told the League Two club he wants to leave Meadow Lane after making his debut at Morecambe on Saturday.

It was their third consecutive away defeat and the former Tottenham and Arsenal defender said his new side were guilty of hesitating in possession.

The 35-year-old only joined the Magpies last month on a five-year deal.

Campbell was capped 73 times by England and won many of those caps under County's new director of football Sven-Goran Eriksson.

He said the prospect of working with Eriksson again was a big part of his reason for choosing to go to Meadow Lane and that he planned to play there for "at least three years".

"This club have got great ambition and I want to be a part of it," said Campbell when he joined last month.

"Sven played a big role. He's a great man. He's managed all over the world and he knows his football, he's a proper guy.

606: DEBATE
Julian S

"He's seen the future. It's a challenge but I think everyone connected to the club are prepared for that challenge. It's refreshing. "

The 6ft 2in centre-half began his playing career at Tottenham before his controversial move to bitter rivals Arsenal in 2001.

In five years with the Gunners he won two Premier League titles and three FA Cups, and was an integral member of the double-winning team of 2002 and the 'Invincible' squad which went through the entire 2003-04 league season unbeaten.

He moved to Portsmouth in 2006, captaining them to FA Cup glory in 2008 and making 32 Premier League appearances last season before moving to Notts County.

The signing of Campbell and Eriksson came in the wake of the club's takeover by Middle East consortium Munto Finance in the summer.

Earlier this week, County denied that the Football League is unhappy with the takeover.

Campbell's decision to drop to the lower leagues received a mixed reaction from his former managers.

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp, who managed Campbell at Portsmouth, said he if he had been in charge of any other club, he would have attempted to sign him.

"I think he is still a fantastic player," he said.

"In my opinion he's still in the top six central defenders in the Premier League so for Notts County to get him in that division is incredible."

But Arsene Wenger, who was Campbell's manager at Arsenal, expressed doubts about how he would handle the change in standard.

"Time will show if it is a good move for him," he said. "It depends what is in his mind, if it is purely a football move or if it is a long-term move that he wants to be involved afterwards as a coach.

"Maybe it can be a good decision if he wants to build something on the longer term. On the short term, he will suffer a bit because he is used to top level football.

"When you move down, it is always difficult to cope mentally."

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