Former Spurs, Arsenal and Portsmouth defender Sol Campbell is to be given a lifeline by Hull boss Phil Brown in January.

The ex-England international is desperate to secure a deal to resume his playing career after walking out on lower league outfit Notts County earlier in the year.

He penned a lucrative deal to work with Sven-Goran Eriksson et al. but found that life in the midlands wasn't to his liking and he promptly left County after playing just one game for them.

Now a free agent, the 35-year-old is allowed to seek new employment in January and he has been linked with a number of top flight clubs - most notably Manchester United.

However, this week Sir Alex Ferguson ruled out a move for the veteran stopper and so Campbell is listening to offers from elsewhere.

Hull are prepared to offer him a one year contract worth around £25,000 a week, and are confident that they can lure Campbell to the KC Stadium come January.

Outspoken boss Phil Brown is keen to shore up a leaky defence and knows that if The Tigers are to survive in the Premier League for a second successive season, then the experience of the likes of Campbell will be crucial.