You want the situation where you just don’t see black and white, you see a FOOTBALL MANAGER
SOL STARTING AT THE BOTTOM FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME, THE BUZZ AND DEFINITELY NOT FOR THE MONEY!
SOL CAMPBELL does not respond with figures but finds a question about how much he might be getting paid at Macclesfield Town hilarious.
Genuinely hilarious.
“I don’t want to talk about that,” he says, stifling his guffaws. “But it REALLY is all about the football.”
His emphasis not mine. Unsubstantiated tales doing the rounds in lower-league boardrooms suggest one or two managers are working for expenses and bonuses only, such is the desperate scramble to get on the ladder. There is no suggestion that is the case with Campbell, even though he once said he would consider working for free, but it goes without saying his first, annual pay packet is likely to be less than his last weekly one as a player. In fact, it is certain to be less. Taking on the challenge at the Moss Rose Stadium is purely about Campbell, after six years of being available for jobs and after at least a dozen knockbacks, proving a point.
Proving clubs who have not bothered interviewing him have made a mistake.
And proving black managers should be given more opportunities in the professional game. As he was formally introduced as the eighth Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic manager in the four professional leagues, Campbell was not keen to expand on the problem but clearly hopes his appointment can be a small step towards change.
Asked if BAME candidates were at a disadvantage, he said: “I’m not going to state the obvious. I’ve an opportunity and you want the situation to become normal where you don’t start seeing black and white, you see a football manager.” And never mind reminding Macclesfield of his class as a player, Campbell is convinced he has the qualities it takes to be a top-level manager. He explained: “I haven’t played at this level but I’m am a good thinker and I will look at all levels and all situations. I pick up what I need
to do to win, that’s the kind of human being I am.
“I don’t muck around, I don’t waste time with things that will not benefit the club or the players. We haven’t got time for that. We need to carry on winning games.”
Although this was his official unveiling, Campbell did give a team talk ahead of Macclesfield’s 1-0 win at Exeter on Tuesday.
It was a second straight victory but Macclesfield remain rooted to the bottom of League Two.
“You have to start somewhere,” Campbell said. “The opportunity came up and there was no messing about.
“I’m going to take it with both hands.” Campbell has had eclectic interests since playing his last game in 2011, including a dabble with the idea of standing for Mayor of London.
But in an impressive, confident first public outing as a manager, he insisted his love of the game drew him back to football... and here to Macclesfield.
“It’s the passion,” he said. “I think about football all the time. I like strategy, I like the whole buzz of it, I love building teams, I want to run my own show.
“I’m a serious character when it comes to football. I’m deadly serious about football and want to see how far I can go.
“The first job is to get Macclesfield further up the table and go from there.
“The passion is there. I’m not going to lie, there have been times when I’ve thought, ‘Is it going to happen?’
“But you can walk away from football but it kept on coming back. Football is where my heart is.
“It’s been a long time coming but I am thrilled to bits to be here.”
And in a stadium representing a different world from the one he lived in as a player, you got the sense he meant it.
As he finally sets out on his managerial journey, Campbell deserves any luck he gets.
He will definitely need it.