‘We did all the pieces we may to cease Sol Campbell leaving Tottenham for Arsenal, however there was no probability – he determined he wanted to maneuver for his personal profession’: Spurs govt reveals key particulars behind controversial switch
‘We did all the pieces we may to cease Sol Campbell leaving Tottenham for Arsenal, however there was no probability – he determined he wanted to maneuver for his personal profession’: Spurs govt reveals key particulars behind controversial switch
Tottenham Hotspur had been left reeling when Sol Campbell determined to depart the membership and be a part of bitter rivals Arsenal on a free switch in the summertime of 2001, however Spurs’ then director of soccer David Pleat reveals there was nothing they may do to cease the transfer from occurring.
Tottenham’s membership captain on the time, Campbell grew to become the primary participant since Pat Jennings to maneuver from White Hart Lane to Highbury. Crucially, he did in order a part of a free switch, that means the membership he had spent greater than a decade at had been gaining nothing from the deal by any means.
Tottenham tried all the pieces they may to maintain Sol Campbell
Campbell in motion for Tottenham (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
For Campbell, trophies had been the last word goal, and he did not really feel Tottenham may assist him ship that ambition, whereas Arsenal finally would.
David Pleat was the director of soccer at Tottenham on the time, providing Campbell a contract which might have made him the membership’s highest-ever paid participant. That did not show sufficient, nonetheless. Pleat and Tottenham’s supervisor George Graham had been merely unable to persuade the centre-back to remain.
Pleat was the Spurs director of soccer, and in addition caretaker supervisor on two events (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
“We did all the pieces we may, however there was no probability – what he was going to get at Arsenal was means out of our vary,” Pleat solely reveals to FourFourTwo. “To be truthful to Sol, I’d met him beforehand with [Alan] Sugar, and Sol believed we weren’t spending sufficient to get higher gamers in. I advised him that it isn’t all the time doable and you need to be affected person.
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“I discovered him a good man. However he determined that he wanted to maneuver for his personal profession.
“Later, Sugar stated, ‘You and George Graham had been so silly: it is best to have stored him out of the staff and he would have signed as a result of he would’ve misplaced his England place.’ Myself and George had determined that we weren’t going to depart him out and reduce our nostril off to spite our face. He was one of the best centre-half we had.”
