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“I know Macclesfield fans will probably think: ‘What’s going on here?’ You’ve got an international footballer who has been one of the best players in the world coming to your club.”

These were the words of Sol Campbell, per BBC, on being appointed manager of Macclesfield Town back in November and from a lengthy press conference where the former Arsenal and England star spoke reasonably throughout it was sadly this comment that the public latched onto for kicks and giggles.

It has become something of a sport in recent times to mock the man capped 73 times for his country though that is not suggesting for one minute that Campbell hasn’t provided ammunition for the banter. There was his failed attempt to become a Conservative Mayor of London and the very real prospect of him canvassing for votes in Tottenham where he is roundly despised. There is his regular indulgence in self-aggrandisement as beautifully illustrated at the top. There is also his outlandish statements that jumped from interviews and punditry work alike.

With his overly-earnest demeanour thrown in too it all added up to making one of the best players in the world a figure of fun.

Behind all of that though there is unquestionably much to admire. Here is a multi-millionaire who was so dedicated to making it in management that he did things the ‘right way’ in obtaining a UEFA pro-license and doing coaching stints wherever he could to gain valuable experience. After being rejected by 15 different clubs he then became only the eighth BAME manager in the English professional game by seeking out the vacant position at Macclesfield, with the Moss Road outfit firmly rooted to the bottom of the football pyramid.

Most admirably of all, while many expected a short, calamitous tenure that brought to mind a fish-out-of-water comedy he has since made one hell of a fist of it.

As stated the Silkmen were bottom of League Two when Campbell took on the reins and appeared for all the world like they were heading for the Conference. Now, following an unbeaten spell that stretches back to early March, they have pulled clear if only by a couple of points.

“I haven’t proved anyone wrong,” Campbell said recently, per BBC. “I haven’t proved anyone right. Until the end of the season I haven’t proved anything. But the main thing is that we stay up. I’m really fighting to make that happen.”

He is doing so by adding goals to the Silkmen’s armoury while it’s hardly surprising that the defence has improved immeasurably since his arrival with Pearson, Jules and others benefiting enormously from being coached by an ‘Invincible’ centre-back.

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There is additionally fight now and a collective belief in the cause and this was shown once again this week in Macc’s over-turning of Exeter in a five-goal thriller. A recent stoic 1-1 draw away to high-flying Lincoln meanwhile caught the eye of many.

It is not just on the pitch either where Campbell has ignited his team. Off it he admits to lighting a fire beneath them aware as he is that there is simply no time for this mayoral candidate to play party politics.

Sol Campbell may not have proved everybody wrong yet, but he’s sure beginning to.