Source: Daily_Mail
Selling his Sol: Campbell has 73 caps but said yes to Notts County... and £40k a week
Sol Campbell sacrificed his Premier League soul for a £10million payday as ambitious Notts County yesterday pulled off their second jaw-dropping signing this summer.[LNB]The former England centre back, 34, shunned top-flight suitors to commit to Sven Goran Eriksson's team for the next five years in an unprecedented move by the League Two club.[LNB]Campbell's estimated £40,000-a-week wage may have been less than half the sum he pocketed at Portsmouth last season, but the length of the contract answered any outstanding issues as to why he completed the switch.[LNB]The size of the deal allied to the persistence of director of football Eriksson eventually persuaded Campbell he could stomach the drop in standard. [LNB] Fall guy: Campbell drops three flights to rejoin Sven[LNB]The £2m-a-year salary makes him comfortably the highest earner outside the top fight, barring those players at Championship clubs who dropped out of the Premier League last season.[LNB]By contrast, some of Campbell's colleagues in the County dressing room are taking home little more than £500 a week.[LNB]Campbell said: 'At first, I thought it was one of those radio wind-ups when Sven called. But then he started talking and saying a few things. As time went on I started to relax about it.[LNB]'It still took quite a few weeks to decide. He didn't phone me up every day but he did every three or four. He was chipping away at me. There were other offers but they were all ifs and buts, not really proper, all short term. [LNB]'For me, it was a trade-off. There were other teams interested from the top flight. But this here is the long term. The other stuff may be short and prestigious but I'm looking for my career. It doesn't matter where you are, you can play and do nothing else at Premier clubs.[LNB]'This gives me a lot of opportunities to play as long as possible, three or four years. Maybe the last year looking at the player-coach side.[LNB]'Of course it's going to be different. But I don't mind starting again. And I don't think it'sreally starting again here because they're a great club with great tradition. Leaguewiseit is dropping down but we've got ambitions to move up and we will. You'd be shocked. Some of the Premier League clubs are all over the place behind the scenes. Not all them are well-oiled machines. This will be a well-oiled machine.'[LNB] Double act: Sven and Sol will be reunited at Meadow Lane[LNB]Asked whether Spurs had wanted him back, Campbell added: 'Well... the chairman...there were other considerations.'[LNB]One of them, clearly, was not the opinion of manager Harry Redknapp, who still believes the defender can cut it among the elite. He said: 'If I wasn't at Tottenham, if I was at any other Premier League club, I'd take Sol. He's still a fantastic player. [LNB]'He's still a top-six central defender in the Premier League, so for Notts County to gethim is just incredible. [LNB]'I spoke to Martin O'Neill four weeks ago and he was talking to me about Villa looking for a centre half and I said I'd take Sol. That's how highly I rate him still.[LNB]'I left him behind at Portsmouth and he was still outstanding. It wasn't possible to bring him back to Tottenham, but I'm surprised no one has taken him in the Premier League. He's still got a couple of years in him, without question.'[LNB] Happy days: Redknapp and Campbell pose with the FA Cup[LNB]Another of Campbell's former bosses, Arsene Wenger, harboured slight reservations upon hearing the news. [LNB]He said: 'Time will show if it is a good move for Sol, it depends what is in his mind if it is a football move or a long-term move, if he wants to be involved as a coach. [LNB]'Maybe it can be a good decision if he wants to build something. In the short term he will suffer a bit because he is used to top-level football. When you move down it is difficult to cope mentally.'[LNB]Unsurprisingly, County manager Ian McParland expects Campbell to intimidate, rather than be intimidated by the move. The Scot now has issues of how to gel his side.[LNB]Two weeks ago Kasper Schmeichel arrived. Trying to marry up those two with League Two players is likely to cause McParland a headache. [LNB] Headache: McParland poses with new boy Campbell[LNB]He said: 'Sol's got 73 England caps I won't hold that against him and I hope he will intimidate people coming here. I expect him to sort them out, not the other way around. [LNB]'Last week against Chesterfield, they wanted our scalps. It's going to be tough for us. But there were clubs in our league that spent more than we have this year. As for Sol, Sven asked me whether I'd take him. I'd have been an idiot to say no.'[LNB] Sol Campbell joins Eriksson as Notts County's blockbuster signingSpurs boss Harry Redknapp admits: If I wasn't here I would love to sign Sol CampbellIrresistible Sven to use his legendary charm to coax Campbell to County[LNB] Explore more:People:Sven Goran Eriksson, Arsene Wenger, Harry RedknappPlaces:United Kingdom, Premier League club
