Pompey Deny Sol Bust-Up As Newcastle Loom

Sol Campbell was involved in a public spat with Portsmouth chief Peter Storrie, and has since been linked with a move to Newcastle.

The subject of the bust-up was Pompey's lack of ambition, and their inactivity in the transfer window to arrest what has been a slide in form over the last couple of months.

Portsmouth looked favourites for at least a Uefa Cup berth in October, but are now slipping backwards, and Campbell is not too pleased.

With Newcastle expected to start moving upwards, he is said to have stormed out demanding a move to Tyeside, and did not feature in the 3-1 win against Derby County.

However, the club have played down the spat.

Said a spokesman: “It’s quite simple. Sol had a back problem and he’s been having treatment on it all week.

"We hoped he would be fit but he couldn’t make it.

"I spoke to Peter Storrie about it [the spat] and he laughed and said it was rubbish.”

However, reports in this morning's dailies suggest that Campbell has made up his mind, and wants to join Kevin Keegan, whom he played under for England.