Ambitious League Two outfit Notts County have been dealt another setback after former Manchester City and Rangers full-back Michael Ball turned down a three-year deal at Meadow Lane.

The Magpies' director of football Sven Goran Eriksson had hoped to recruit the 29-year-old, with whom he worked with at Eastlands, after seeing Sol Campbell walk out last week following just one game.

But having given it due consideration, The Sun claims that free agent Ball has decided against dropping into the fourth tier of English football as he believes he is still capable of perfroming at the highest level.

Ball, who began his career at Everton and also enjoyed a spell playing under Guus Hiddink at PSV Eindhoven, is fit again following knee surgery and is attracting interest from Portsmouth and Turkish side Galatasaray.