raveydavey
Eddie Gray
Joined: 12 May 2007
Posts: 3952
Location: Leeds Yorkshire England
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 Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 6:53 pm Post subject: Sol Campbell - proof football has really gone mad? |
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http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/...ootball_league/article6809570.ece
Sol Campbell will be rewarded with a staggering £10 million contract for downgrading from the Barclays Premier League to the bottom rung of the English professional ladder.
At the start of the Munto Finance era at Notts County, Peter Trembling, the chief executive, had insisted there would be no “big-name” signings to follow that of Sven-Göran Eriksson, the new director of football at the League Two club. Even when the first fanciful suggestions that Campbell was on the club’s radar emerged three weeks ago, they were dismissed out of hand.
Yesterday, however, Campbell signed a five-year playing contract that is worth an estimated £40,000 a week, even though Ian McParland, the manager, confessed that some of his players earn a “basic £500 a week.” The former Portsmouth centre back, who will be 35 next month and spent the summer pursuing moves to Aston Villa, Hull City, Everton and Newcastle United, will earn in two weeks what McParland earns in a year.
“I know that this will probably mean the end of my England career, but that is something I have to get on with,” he said. “There was a chance of England if I had gone to a Premier League side and had a good season, but I have to look to the long-term future.
“When Sven first contacted me I thought I was the victim of a prank, but the length of contract at Notts County was a big trade off. The other stuff was short and prestigious, but I am looking to the future and for my career.”
Although the club were at pains to stress that there is no coaching slant on Campbell’s contract, the player is looking to further his ambitions in that department too, under the tutelage of Eriksson.
“Sven was a big influence in my decision and he had to give me the hard sell,” Campbell said. “He was on the phone every three or four days. I am looking to the future and I would love to be a manager. This gives me the opportunity. I can play for three or four years and then maybe look at the coaching side. I can learn a lot from Sven. The ultimate is for me to manage in the Premier League.”
Campbell’s decision has amazed Arsène Wenger, his former Arsenal manager, who said: “That shows you how much financial potential Notts County has suddenly.” And if McParland’s head was in a whirl after the arrival of Eriksson it will be spinning furiously now. He has confessed to close friends of fears for his position and Campbell’s arrival and managerial desires will hardly make him feel any less secure.
For now McParland’s main objective is to integrate the defender — who won 73 England caps — into a team that are way below the level Campbell has occupied and help him to attain match fitness after a summer spent training alone. “It won’t be a problem integrating him,” McParland said. “We’ve got a good bunch of boys in there. Sol’s here as a football player. The boys have worked with him already and they have welcomed him and I’ve welcomed him. Nothing should surprise anyone what happens in football.”
So, we have a club on the bottom rung of professional football in England who are able to afford to throw £40k a week for the next 5 years at a bloke who is weeks off his 35th birthday.
Football truly has gone mad. The reported £10 million cost of the contract is lunacy, for a bloke who was out of contract and who will be pushing 40 when it's finally paid up. Is anyone other than Campbell (or possibly his agent) really expecting him to be playing at that age?
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Boycott Sheffield |
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Garp
Allan Clarke
Joined: 06 May 2008
Posts: 694
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| Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 9:39 pm Post subject: |
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| I hate the economics of the modern game. So Notts County are the new Man City, who are the new Chelsea. I can't wait for Sky to go bust and rich men to go do somethimg like F1 or fly to the moon. The sooner soccer finance melts down, the sooner the game may return to its roots.
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