Sol Campbell is keen to repay manager Chris Hughton's leap of faith after the veteran defender became Newcastle's third signing of the summer.The former England and Arsenal centre-back completed the formalities on his Bosman free move to St James' Park, signing a 12-month contract.
The 35-year-old, who will wear the number five shirt, said: "At this stage of my career I couldn't have wished for a better move. To join a club like Newcastle, with its proud tradition, heritage and magnificent support, is absolutely tremendous.
"I'd like to thank Chris Hughton for putting his faith in me and aim to repay him and the supporters by giving everything I can to help re-establish the club in the top-tier of English football.
"I just want to play and can't wait to get started. There's a real buzz about the place and that's great."
With almost 500 Premier League games under his belt, Campbell brings some much-needed top flight know-how to a Newcastle defence left looking somewhat threadbare by the absence through injury of Steven Taylor for the first two months of the campaign.
Hughton said: "I've known Sol since he was a lad at Tottenham and am fully aware of what he has to offer. That is experience, quality, calm assurance and leadership. He's a dedicated professional, a terrific addition to the squad, and I look forward to working with him again."
July 22, 2010: Gosling Signs, but Must Wait for Debut
Newcastle supporters will have to wait before they see Dan Gosling in action after the midfielder finally seated his protracted move to St James' Park.
The England Under-21 international completed the formalities of his controversial departure from Everton on a free transfer, after an administrative error saw the Goodison Park club fail to offer the 20-year-old a new contract in writing. After the deadline passed for the Merseyside club to appeal against the Football Association's decision on his contractual status, Newcastle announced Gosling has agreed a four-year deal, believed to be worth around £20,000-a-week, to join Hughton's squad on their return to the Premier League.
Gosling, who will wear the number 15 shirt, isn't expected to return to the fray until Christmas as he recovers from a knee ligament injury. Hughton said: "We're delighted to sign Dan, he's a good young player with a bright future in the game."
July 6, 2010: Fans Hoping for Bigger Fish as Perch is Landed:
James Perch is set to become Newcastle's first summer signing, although supporters will no doubt hope for rather bigger fish as Chris Hughton looks to further bolster his squad ahead of their return to the Premier League.
The Nottingham Forest utility man will move to the North-East, subject to a medical, after the persistent Newcastle manager finally snared his man at the second time of asking. Hughton failed with what Forest labeled a 'derisory offer' in the region of £1m in January, but the addition of an extra incentive-based £500,000 seems to have done the trick this time to secure the services of the 24-year-old, who has been ear-marked to start the season at right-back, in place of the injured Danny Simpson.
The versatility of Mansfield-born Perch, who was in the last year of his contract at the City Ground after clocking-up more than 200 appearances since his debut in 2004, has proved a major lure for the Championship title-winners.
Hughton, alerted to Perch's qualities by his assistant, former Forest manager Colin Calderwood, said: "He's a player who can play in a few positions. He can play centre-back, right-back centre midfield." For what it's worth, the player himself sees his favoured position in central defence.
May 30, 2010: Move Along, Nothing To See Here
Baffled Newcastle supporters have wasted inordinate hours debating the exact meaning and merits of the term "there will be no capital outlay on players" in the predictably vaguely worded statement issued by the board in May, one, whichever way you took it, quickly helped to dissipate the feeling of optimism in the wake of promotion.
Many think it means just that, no money, although others have suggested it might allow Hughton to re-appropriate the £12 million or so Newcastle are due this year in the final instalments of transfer fees for James Milner, Charles N'zogbia, Oba Martins and Damien Duff. Only time will tell the size, if any, of the summer kitty, but the club continue to insist that any transfer rumours are just that - rumours. No money deals is the mantra.
THE SUMMER SO FAR
INS:
- James Perch (Nottingham Forest) £1.5m
- Dan Gosling (Everton) free
- Sol Campbell (Arsneal) free
OUTS:
- Nicky Butt (released)
- Fabrice Pancrate (released)
WE PREDICTED (at end of season)
He's Off: Fabrice Pancrate. The French winger looked out of his depth in the Championship, so it was no surprise Hughton declined an opportunity to extend the contract of a player quickly nicknamed Forrest Gump for his impressive talent of being able to run everywhere at break-neck speed. Sadly, when the ball was involved, he wasn't quite as effective.
Wish-list For Next Season: Manchester United and Arsenal cast-offs, by the look of it. Hughton has already stated his desire to rival Bolton for the services Jack Wilshere as the Newcastle manager, short on transfer funds, morphs, cap in hand, into the loan-arranger.
Manchester United duo Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverley are also on the temporary wish-list, but anyone with a sizeable price-tag will be out of reach. Hughton could blow a hole in whatever modest kitty he has on Nedum Onuoha, the Manchester City defender, who is available at around £3.5m.
Future prospects: Weren't looking all that healthy even before Mike Ashley's lengthy statement of intent, or lack of intent in the case of releasing funds for squad strengthening. In his attempt to reduce losses approaching £70 million it's a laudable effort, but in terms of Newcastle's prospect of remaining in the Premier League, it's footballing suicide.
Sadly, there's little hope of debating the merits of the decision. The aforementioned release was the last utterance to be heard from the publicity-shy owner and his board for some time if he is to be believed, although they are still sending out quiet denials to media outlets that dare to link them with players.
Without money, Hughton risks being a dead man walking soon after the start of the season because the Newcastle squad is in major need of overhaul. If that proves prophetic, it explains why Ashley refused to bring in a higher-profile manager, one more equipped to deal with the Premier League than the current incumbent once promotion had been sealed.
It's clear that no incoming manager worth his salt would agree to effectively having one hand tied behind his back in terms of the lack of transfer funds at his disposal. Hughton, other than resigning in protest which he hasn't yet done, has no option but to work within the stifling, and job threatening, constraints.
Don't be fooled by the way Newcastle brushed aside the likes of Barnsley and Scunthorpe en route to the Championship title with a club record points tally. The current playing staff has, if anything, regressed since the club was relegated 12 months ago. True, the spirit may be 10-times greater, but spirit wins you few points in the Premier League, as Blackpool are about to find out. Quality harvests the points, but quality costs money.
