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 love being an Arsenal fan. It's like a rollercoaster ride, except since 2006 it's the sort of rollercoaster that I'd design on Rollercoaster Tycoon where the tracks aren't connected and the at the end the car just flies off and everyone is ground into mince.
You'd think this lot would be desperate to play well and get in the first team. Especially the centre backs, if one of them could turn out to actually be good they'd definitely get a place in the first team.