The Arsenal former Sol Campbell has been threatened with a five-year gagging order by Notts County, who are refusing to release his registration to enable him to sign for another club until an agreement can be reached on a 'statement of departure'.Sol Campbell is refusing to sign the gagging order as he believes he needs to tell the incredible truth of his few weeks at Notts County to clear his name.
While it has generally been assumed that Sol Campbell and Notts County broke off their relationship "by mutual consent", ESPN Soccernet can now reveal that nothing could be further from the truth, as lawyers work away to try to resolve the complex exit agreement.
Taylor told ESPN Soccernet: "You often hear the phrase 'nothing surprises me in football'. Well, this has surprised me. This is different to say the least. It is also very difficult. It is also a strange one to say the least.
"Notts County are holding onto Sol's registration and refusing to release it until he agrees to a five-year gagging order. Clearly, Sol needs to express the real reasons behind his departure, and will not agree to such a gagging order.
"Instead, we are trying to agree a form of words, a statement that both sides are prepared to accept, that will enable Notts County to release Sol from his contract, release his registration and let him make his appeal to the Premier League to find another club before or during the January transfer window.
"Notts County are not seeking a transfer fee - they wish to ensure that there is no damage inflicted on the club should Sol go public with his reasons for leaving. Our view is that a gagging order is an infringement of Sol's - or anyone's - right to freedom of speech, and our point is that if Sol Campbell said anything detrimental or defamatory then they can take action accordingly.
"At the moment, Notts County are refusing to cancel the contract as they are trying to protect themselves, hence our current dilemma. This statement is necessary for Sol to move on with his life and to take his appeal to the Premier League and the Football League to enable him to play for another club on special dispensation.
"Sol Campbell wants to go to the football authorities seeking exemption from the rules that you cannot play for more than two teams in any given season, and Sol can then give his special reasons why he needs to be allowed to play again. It is now critical to agree a statement to leave Notts County before this can happen. That's how sensitive it has become.
"Clearly, no club is entitled to hold onto a player's registration without paying him, and the club have paid Sol Campbell up until the point at which he left, but, clearly, technically, they should continue to pay him, if they hold his registration."
One of the issues Campbell faced, concerned the questions over the club's ownership, but Taylor believes that issue has now been resolved.
He added: "One of Sol's concerns was that he was not actually paid by the football club, but his salary came from another company - presumably the holding company - and he was concerned where the money was coming from.
"So too was the Football League, and the League are now satisfied that the key personnel involved with the club are 'fit and proper' persons to be involved. However, there was some debate about one of the names put forward to the League. Now, though, Notts County have answered the questions posed by the Football League regarding the club's ownership."
courtesy: soccernet.espn
