SILKY START AS SOL TAKES REINS
Boss dived in to inspire his new troops
MACCLESFIELD defender David Fitzpatrick has revealed new boss Sol Campbell was the mastermind behind Tuesday’s shock victory over high-flying Exeter.
Officially, the ex-England and Arsenal defender had only a watching brief at St James Park as the Silkmen – bottom of League Two – sought their first away win of the season. But after paying a visit to the dressing room prior to kick-off, the 44-year-old then seized control from caretakers Danny Whitaker and Neil Howarth before Harry Smith’s second-half strike sealed a precious three points. “We were at a hotel down in Exeter when it was announced that Sol was taking over,” said Fitzpatrick. “We were told he was going to be at the game, but only to say ‘Hi guys’ and then watch from the stand.
Tactics
“But when he came into the dressing room before kick-off, he immediately started asking about tactics and putting his thoughts across. He was kind of saying ‘You should be doing this, you should be doing that’.
“When we came in at halftime, he was already there. And, to be honest, he completely took over at that point.
“He had loads of notes written down, loads of ideas. He was basically coaching us from that moment on. He jumped straight in.”
Campbell, who won two Premier League titles and 73 caps in a near 20-year top flight career, was officially unveiled on Thursday.
The former Spurs star has been seeking a route into management since he retired in 2012 and has frequently complained about a lack of opportunities for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) coaches. In an interview with The
Guardian last year, Campbell revealed that he had never even been granted an interview – despite his playing pedigree and a wealth of qualifications.
Just this week, Paul Ince – himself a former Macclesfield manager – publicly queried why Campbell was forced to wait six years and start in League Two whilst Steven Gerrard was handed a plum job at Rangers just two years after retirement.
“I’m not going to go down that road and state the obvious,” said Campbell, who takes his team to the north-east to face Newcastle U21s in the Checkatrade Trophy second round on Tuesday night.
“I’ve got the opportunity now and I’ve got to take it with both hands, work my socks off and see how far I can go. That’s the thing for me. You want the situation to become normal, so you don’t see black or white, you just see a football manager.”
Promise
Campbell has promised to bring a “bit of magic” to a cash-strapped club who have struggled for stardust since winning a surprise promotion from the National League last season.
“For me, it’s all about being solid,” added Campbell. “But in the final third, I want to see daring. I want to see that skill and magic coming out.”
According to Fitzpatrick, Campbell is also planning to bring cameras and GPS technology to training, and implement a new diet plan.
“I know he will demand a lot and it will be hard work,” added the defender, who combines playing for the Silkmen with a part-time job in HR.
“But you don’t get to where he did in the game without making those sacrifices. It’s exciting to be part of.
“Even so, I think the first day of training will have been an eye-opener. He put on some new sessions and the lads all got stuck in.
“But I don’t think he quite knew who he was dealing with. We’re not Premier League players and our ability levels won’t be what he’s used to. Nor is the standard of the training pitch or the facilities.
“He needs to realise the level he’s managing at to be successful here but it’s a great appointment that can only be good for the club.”