Notts County: Curiouser and Curiouser

The story of Notts County just keeps getting more bizarre.

After being bought up with petrodollars and appointing Sven Goran Eriksson as their Director of Football, the Magpies of League Two (English soccer’s fourth tier) are now on the prowl in the transfer market. And over the last couple of weeks, some of the names bandied about by the British tabloids have been downright ridiculous, from Luis Figo to Patrick Vieira.

But there is one name — another former star past his sell-by date — who seems to be interested. Sol Campbell, the central defender who has played for England in three World Cups, is currently in talks with Notts County, according to the BBC’s Web site.

Campbell, 34, has won a Premier League, scored in a Champions League final, and played on the world’s biggest stage. Now, he’s considering playing for crowds in the neighborhood of 5,000 in glamorous places such as Aldershot, Port Vale, and Grimsby. Quite a fall from grace, but it’s clear the money must be there.

Notts County is currently tied for first place with nine points from four outings. But I’m not sure anyone will accuse Campbell of jumping on a bandwagon.