Source: Telegraph
Sol Campbell turned down Premier League offers to sign fiveyear deal with Notts County
Aston Villa were believed to have been primary among them but Campbell identified the long term future on offer at Meadow Lane as the reason for turning them down.
“I’m looking career wise and [the move to Notts County] sat perfect with me where I am with my life in football," said Campbell. "There were offers in the Premier League but they were short term.”
County, who were taken over by Middle East consortium Munto Finance this summer, unveiled the former Tottenham, Arsenal and Portsmouth defender on Tuesday afternoon where they confirmed Campbell was on a five year deal with a view to coaching, Campbell himself saying he was to play on “for three years at least.”
Asked why he decided to drop down from the top flight to League Two Campbell identified the long term plans of the club as paramount in a decision that took just three weeks to mull over.
“Because of the future, they’ve got great ambitions and I want to be a part of it,” he said.
“I’ve had 3 months off but have been training by myself so not ground zero but not ready to play at the moment.
“There was a few [offers] but I’m looking at the future. This club has fantastic heritage and I want to a part of that. They have guaranteed me that the club will move forward.
“They have a lot of ideas. The main thing is football. I’m here as a footballer. I want to win promotions and get to the Premier League.
Club manager Ian McParland, who took exception to suggestions that Campbell would have problems adjusting to a lower standard of football, said: “Sol’s record speaks for itself and he’s achieved just about everything in the game.
“He’s a great player and a great organiser and his experience will be invaluable to our push for promotion this season.
“We are very happy that he has taken on the challenge and we are looking forward to getting him settled into the team and seeing him pull on a Notts County shirt as soon as possible.”
Campbell cited the influence of his former England manager Eriksson and stressed he was not at County for the money but the challenge of taking the oldest league club in the world back to the top division.
"[Eriksson] is a great man and has managed all over the world, knows his football and is a proper guy," said Campbell. "He’s seen the future, it’s a challenge but everyone connected with the club accepts that challenge.
“You have to adjust. Of course it will be different but I don’t mind starting again. And it isn’t even starting again. It is dropping down but we have ambitions to move up and we will.”
