Broken promises led to Campbell exit

Sol Campbell has claimed he quit Notts County after just one game because promises he was made about other big-name signings were not kept.

The former Arsenal and Tottenham defender walked out of Meadow Lane just 29 days into a five-year contract, worth a reported £40,000 (€43,000) a week, because he was the only major signing during the summer after his release by Portsmouth.

Campbell, who left by mutual consent just days after his debut in the 2-1 defeat at Morecambe in Coca-Cola League Two, had expected to see players like Brazilian Roberto Carlos joining him as part of ambitious plans at the club following the takeover by Munto Finance.

But after linking up with former England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, the director of football at Meadow Lane, Campbell felt he had been let down.

Campbell told the News of the World: “I knew I would be the club’s first big signing but was told I would be the first of many.

“Names like Roberto Carlos and Benjani were mentioned. But nothing materialised.

“And you know when people have money because things happen quickly.

“The only thing I’m guilty of is taking people at their word.”

Campbell added: “So I’m not embarrassed, not hurt or humbled or anything like that – I am just disappointed.

“I bought into a dream and I wanted to make that dream a reality. But it took me less than a month to realise that it was all heading to a different conclusion.

“Let’s leave it at that. I don’t want to say too much. I’m going to remain dignified. I’m not interested in this becoming a slanging match.

“They can say what they want about me but I have got nothing against County.”

County chief executive Peter Trembling refuted Campbell’s claims this morning.

He said: “I’m a bit surprised by Sol’s comments. Things have gone at an astronomical pace over the last few months.

“Signing nine players in three months is unheard of at our level and we’ve started work on a new training ground. We’ve been linked with about 88 players...

“But I’ve never talked about Benjani to anybody at all. Roberto Carlos – Sven, I understand, did talk about but it never went beyond a conversation.

“Sven talks every day about four or five players we might be looking at – but most are more aligned to League Two.

“We’ve said all along there may be three or four (stars) we may take as long-term prospects – if a star is defined by 70-80 international caps – and Sol was signed up to that term.

“Ade Akinbiyi will be joining us tomorrow, subject to a medical. That’s the only signing we’ve got in mind at the moment.”

Trembling refuted newspaper claims Eriksson is poised to replace Ian McParland as team manager.