Campbell’s World Cup dream is behind U-turn, say County
NOTTS COUNTY executive chairman Peter Trembling believes Sol Campbell’s burning desire to play for England was behind his shock decision to quit the club.
The League Two outfit confirmed yesterday the 35-year-old has parted ways with the club, 29 days after signing a five-year-deal.
The former England defender left by mutual consent after playing only once for the Magpies and Trembling cited Campbell’s unfinished business at international level as his main reason for quitting.
“Sol, I think, has still got one eye on the 2010 World Cup squad,” he said. “Maybe he just wants to ply his trade elsewhere. Maybe the decision he made when he signed here was made a little too quickly.”
Campbell’s hopes of an England recall look slim: he is yet to play under current manager Fabio Capello and the last of his 73 caps came in the infamous 3-2 defeat to Croatia in November 2007. Trembling added: “I think Sol expected this to be Premier League tomorrow almost, which by definition is not going to happen.
“We are on a five-year project, we are in League Two at the moment, we were up at Morecambe on Saturday and I think the stark reality of that compared to where he used to play at – the Emirates and Anfield etc – perhaps brought it home.”
The signing of Campbell capped a remarkable double coup by new owners Munto Finance after the arrival of ex-England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson as director of football in July.