Former England captain Sol Campbell has recalled the day Newcastle United managing director Derek Llambias told the squad they had fired Chris Hughton. Hughton, who took the job after relegation, was axed months after winning the Championship and guiding the team to mid-table by Christmas.
Hughton's Sacking
Newcastle released a statement after Hughton, with a win rate of around 55%, had led wins at Arsenal and West Ham, saying they wanted 'more managerial experience.' Campbell told Chronicle Live he walked out when Ashley's staff explained the decision.
“Chris took Newcastle when nobody wanted it. How many people would have taken Newcastle when they were at the bottom, he took them from there to the top of the Championship? He had the second-best points tally behind Reading. Then they sacked him and came down and chatted nonsense in the changing rooms. I could not believe the language they were using; it wasn’t football.”
Hughton had guided newly-promoted Newcastle to the top five after a Premier League win at the Emirates. Campbell added: “I am still glad I had the chance to pull on the black-and-white shirt. Chris had the team in a great top-five position just before he left. I knew Mike Ashley wanted to bring in his own people, but I have never known anybody to sack somebody in a good position.”
Disrespect in the Dressing Room
Campbell said: “When you are at the last knockings, and that was my last club, I came in for Chris and it all changes. That’s OK when you are 19 or 20 but that was my last contract, and it changes again so soon. It made no sense any more. You ask where this club is going when you can sack a manager who has just got you promoted with record points. But it was what they said in the dressing room when he went, I thought: ‘Is this for real?’ The way some of the hierarchy disrespected him in front of me, I just couldn’t handle. I had to just walk out of the room.”
Life in the North East
Campbell, who arrived as an Arsenal legend, loved his time in the North East. He said: “I lived up there 10 years on and off. The North East is a beautiful place, I was more in the countryside near Corbridge and Hexham. I was near Hadrian’s Wall in the romantic rolling hills of Northumberland. It is beautiful in winter when the sun comes out after snow. The dark nights and seeing the stars with no light pollution were incredible. You can get to the coast easily and enjoy oysters and mackerel, the fish is beautiful. The people are brilliant, they love their football like a religion.”
Campbell found the North East press pack 'cheeky,' especially the Three Legends phone-in. He laughed: “I think maybe people took the mick a little bit too much. It went a bit too far, but maybe the cheek was all in good faith.”
Newcastle's Future
Now with PIF at the wheel and Eddie Howe backed with a big budget, Campbell said: “Newcastle is in a fantastic position. They have the fanbase and the hierarchy, now they just need one or two special players willing to work to make the difference.”
Campbell was speaking to promote his podcast Legend's Corner, which includes cultural and artistic content. He said: “I am doing Legend’s Corner Plus, it’s more cultural, more artistic, with a fans’ take. I did Spike Lee in Brooklyn, and I’m looking to do a different take with directors, actors, musicians, artistic people, fans. It won’t always be Arsenal, it will be other clubs and interesting people. The football side, Legend’s Corner, corners have been synonymous with me scoring goals from them, it is a lovely pun. I’m doing audio and video; in the audio I put a little personal feeling because you can get away with it. People can enjoy both and get two for the price of one.”
Ex-Newcastle defender Campbell sat down with former Toon No 9 Andy Cole to discuss his life and time on Tyneside. Both parts are available on YouTube on the Legends Corner channel, follow @LegendsCornerTV.
