Sol Campbell says he is one of the greatest minds in football after being overlooked by Oxford

Sol Campbell held initial talks with Oxford United

Sol Campbell says clubs are afraid to appoint "one of the greatest minds in football" after he was overlooked for the Oxford United job.

The former Arsenal, Tottenham and England defender held initial talks with the League One side, but they are expected to appoint Craig Bellamy, who has been coaching with Cardiff City.

Campbell insists he is "intelligent enough" to make an impact at that level and has rejected his lack of experience as being a legitimate reason not to hand him a first managerial job.

"I did go (for the Oxford job) and they didn't accept me," he told the Arsenal podcast Highbury & Heels.

"Maybe it was a lack of experience, things like that, but it's a full circle. Experience? How do I get experience? Well, I need a job to get experience.

"I don't want to go too low that it's a struggle, and I don't want to go too low that I'm under someone and thinking 'what am I doing here?' I would rather be managing a club myself.

"I'm confident and it's not like it's rocket science to run a football club, especially when you get to that level. If you're intelligent enough and a quick learner you will learn pretty soon, within two or three games, what the team needs, training-wise, to survive in that league, get better in that league, to get in the play-offs or even win the league.

Oxford United are expected to appoint Craig Bellamy as manager

"I'm intelligent enough, it's not like I played on a fox and dog pitch all my life. I can't believe some people, I'm one of the greatest minds in football and I'm being wasted because of a lack of experience or 'maybe he talks his mind too much'.

"Go to Germany, they love people who speak their minds. They got the jobs. I'm sorry that I've got a mind, but don't be scared of that. That should be something you want at your club, but obviously not."