Sol Campbell: 'I'm one of the greatest minds in football' despite Oxford snub

Sol Campbell was none too pleased with Oxford United's decision to hire Craig Bellamy as manager instead of him, adding he believes himself to be "one of the greatest minds in football" and should be given a chance as a club manager to reflect that fact.

The former Arsenal and Tottenham defender applied to take over at third-tier Oxford, who was in the market for a new manager after sacking Pep Clotet last month following less than half a year in charge, but the club opted to hire former Cardiff City boss Bellamy instead, a decision that irked Campbell.

"I'm confident and it's not like it's rocket science to run a football club, especially when you get to that level," Campbell said on podcast Highbury & Heels, as quoted by the Independent.

"If you're intelligent enough and a quick learner you will learn pretty soon, within two or three games, what the team needs, training-wise, to survive in that league, get better in that league, to get in the play-offs, or even win the league.

"I'm intelligent enough, it's not like I played on a fox and dog pitch all my life. I can't believe some people, I'm one of the greatest minds in football and I'm being wasted because of a lack of experience or 'maybe he talks his mind too much.'

"Go to Germany, they love people who speak their minds. They got the jobs. I'm sorry that I've got a mind, but don't be scared of that. That should be something you want at your club, but obviously not."

Campbell, who has not yet managed a club, questioned the reasoning behind Oxford's decision despite him being an unseasoned candidate: "Well, I need a job to get experience."

He had previously announced he'd work for free at first in order to get some managerial experience, though his ambition is to one day coach in the Premier League.