Suddenly Sol Campbell not looking so silly

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Stop press! Ian McParland sacked by Notts County.

After having his job placed âÂÂunder reviewâ a couple of weeks ago, the final straw for the board was a 2-2 home draw with Torquay leaving the team 5th in League Two, four points off the top.

Now thereâÂÂs no false statement in the above paragraph, no artistic licence taken, no exaggeration made for comic effect.

I wonâÂÂt even ask you to imagine trying to work against the backdrop of a club thatâÂÂs almost overnight become a media circus.

A club where a former England manager is announced as Director of Football, committed to a three year project, but whom IâÂÂm prepared to bet my next dole cheque wonâÂÂt be there by the time weâÂÂre all gorging on Christmas dinner two months from now.

The club where that said same Director of Football doesnâÂÂt even know whoâÂÂs bankrolling the club.

I tell you whoâÂÂs looking like a wise man now where once he was condemned... Sol Campbell.

IâÂÂm already feeling for my mate Ade Akinbiyi, who spoke highly of his manager when we chatted after the Torquay game.

Whatever the truth, McParland appeared to be putting together a 'team' in the truest sense of the word, from the sum of expensively assembled parts.

On the evidence of the televised game against Torquay, theyâÂÂve clearly gone down the galacticos route, and built from the front first.

Never mind the oft-heard 'project' from the board of directors, it was clearly a work in progress and the next incumbent will be a lucky man inheriting a talented squad until perhaps a year or so from now, when heâÂÂll probably be moved on again.

Like modern day Ancient Mariners, weâÂÂre forced to spend our days wandering aimlessly, haranguing perfect strangers or writing online blogs to rail against the injustice of it all.

âÂÂI used to be in football you knowâ we shout, to no-one in particular, sipping Powerade from brown bags at the crack of dawn, while people hurriedly cross the road to avoid us.

Come and join our gang Ian, theyâÂÂre not worth it... by the way do you have the number of the chief executive there, I just wanted to erm⦠chat about.. erm⦠hey another cereal bar anyone?

Asked to watch a couple of players at an Academy game last weekend, I found myself reluctantly handing over my hard-earned ã5.40 to cross the Severn Bridge to watch Cardiff vs Reading U16s and U18s.

As a way of watching some possible future stars of tomorrow, it was a rewarding exercise, but even at this level there are signs that the gameâÂÂs commercial tentacles are deeply embedded.

I expected to see all the big clubs represented here. Even after the recent 'poaching' scandals involving Manchester United and Chelsea, the fact is that the practice has been commonplace.

Boot deal? 14 years old? I played across three decades for 15 years on this green and pleasant land, and the deal for me was simple: buy own boots, shoot, score, win games, be happy, the end.

Reminds me of that song in the 80s (anyone under the age of 25, look away now!), Too Much Too Young by the Specials. 

But amidst the flailing boots and tackles, you could glimpse the Kanu-like fusion of legs, arms and sublime skill in the young centre-forward for Reading, or the calm maturity of CardiffâÂÂs centre-half, who brought to mind a young version of the still-young Jack Rodwell of Everton.

I even saw some wannabee wags, heavy on the lipstick and hair extensions, junior Cheryls and Danielles right down to their tottering stilletoes. It was like X Factor without the tears.

There are some elements around the margins of the 'beautiful game' where the phrase could hardly be less appropriate.

And when money rewards the young before theyâÂÂve rightfully earned it, you can only cross your fingers and pray it doesnâÂÂt corrupt them.

But if your glass truly is half-full, and if like Ian McParland youâÂÂve been dealt a cruel hand, you can still see the hypnotic pull of it, typically in the faces of the young.