Albion star Kevin Phillips has tipped Albion to survive in the Premier League next season – but warned he is still not certain to be there to help.
The 24-goal leading scorer is confident he can avoid a third relegation of his career with the Baggies after helping them back to the Premier League.
But his future remained uncertain today after he again warned that top-flight football alone will not be enough to keep him at The Hawthorns.
“I am not going to say I will definitely be around next season,” Phillips said. “This is going to be my last contract and it needs to be right.
“I am not going to sign for the sake of it. I would like two years.
“We will talk and I am sure we will have different views, but hopefully it will get sorted.
“There are other options. Nobody is stupid about that, but I am settled and happy where I am.”
Phillips’ agent, Phil Smith, is due to re-open talks with Baggies chairman Jeremy Peace in the coming days after they broke off negotiations before the end of the season.
But the two sides remain some way apart on the issue of the length of any contract, with Peace relunctant commit to a two-year deal to a player who will be 35 by the start of the new season.
Phillips remains keen to stay and is hopeful a deal can still be done.
And he is confident Tony Mowbray’s side can stay in the top flight, although he revealed his disappointment at not landing the Championship’s golden boot award, with Wolves’ Sylvan Ebanks-Blake finishing one goal ahead at the top of the scoring charts.
He said: “I’ve managed to get promoted twice and I’ve been relegated a few times, but I don’t see that happening next year.
“I think it’s important that we enjoy this and look forward to next year.
“I’m a bit disappointed because it hasn’t been a great end to the season for me and I have gone goalless for the last five games.
“But I’ve said all along it’s not all about myself, it’s about us as a squad and the people behind us and we’ve got the job done.”
21 Comments
It will be a great shame if something cant be sorted out to keep superkev at the club. He has been fantastic to watch and I am sure he still has a lot to offer. on the other side we have to trust Jeremy Peace to do the right thing for the club. Hopefully there is a compromise.
I can see why JP is stalling.. I do want King Kev at club though who does he have lined up?? JP doesn’t let heart rule head!!
Lets wait and see though KP will be playing Prem footy regardless…
Phillips has been great for us this season and i’m sure he will still have a big role to play next season. However, if he does leave it isn’t the end of the world. It frees up a place in the starting line up for somebody else. You never know it could be a blessing in disguise.
I agree with No1 - Philips has been a great player, but there aren’t many strikers in the premiership aged 36-37.
He,s on the way out,Pearce is to tight to give him a new contract.
5 - At least we may only lose the one good player! Looks like looks like you’re losin your goalkeeper, best midfielder and striker!!! hahaha. Unlucky….STAYING IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP THE McCARTHEY WAY,,BY SELLING OF COURSE!!!
Shame if he goes. He’s in great shape and still has a lot to offer. Can’t acrually see anyone else in the prem offering him 2 years though, so if thats the sticking point I’m confident a deal will be done.He won’t move just for the sake of it.
If it was his last game, then what a send off, surely Mowbray has the decision on this one, he sees him in training everyday and knows whether Kev can cut it physically for the next two years.
He may be getting on a bit now but look at the situation give him a 2 year deal and if we stay up by virtue of just one goal from him then his 2 year deal would have been worth it. Should the worst happen and we don’t avoid relegation then he would still be good enough for double figures the following year in the Championship and could once again prove a vital asset. I dont know how much he earns but I am pretty sure it isn’t the sort of salary that would jeopardise the clubs finances, so I realy don’t see what we have got to lose. Bring on next season I can’t wait…..Boing Boing!
We wouldnt have been promoted if it wasnt for him.We struggled when he wasnt playing. Also look at sheringham….he kept playing…so could Phillips.Give him the 2 year contract, he is worth it even of he coaches the strikers.
Another bad PR boys.
Kev deserves his contract without his goals we would still be in the Champ.
Look what he has earned us by getting us up.£60,000.000 come on now…
A bit like the Gera situation - its not just the two years he wants - he will also want ALOT of money - and do we want a dressing room where some people are on 10/20k a week more than others ??
TM has built a team spirit in the club that we don’t want to shatter - and KP and Zolly need to remember that when they give their terms…
give him a two year deal he can play in the prem but also possibly take on a coaching role for other strikers coming through (miller etc) how much would it cost another club to get that sort of experience passed down and what a role model to learn from he can teach other so much whilst they play with him.
As with Gera, let’s trust TM and JP to do the right thing. I’m sure they will. Personally I hope they both stay but the club is bigger than any individual.
2 year contract - now! no arguement.
It’s important to stress here that we do not know what is said behind closed doors.
It would be a great shame to lose him but if he goes he goes. We’ve replaced great players in the past - Don Goodman, Kevin Kilbane, Jason Koumas, Diomansy Kamara to name but a few but the club is still here and in good shape.
Players will always move on eventually, you can’t keep players that aren’t happy. Any deal also has to be right for the club as well as the player. At the end of the day he is 35 years old.
I hope they can agree something but if he does decide his future lies elswhere, he has been a fantastic player for us and all the best to him.
Just winds me up to hear JP stallling over a two year deal for KP, when we paid Hartson for doing sweet FA.
What will phillips cost over next two season ?? say 15k a week for two years - 1.5m. A small price to pay for a player of his quality. If JP lets him go i think it would be a big mistake !!
Thanks for the goals Kev but you’re not worth a big two year contract.We need 20 goals from at least one striker next year and Kev will not give us that. As 12 said - it would shatter the team spirit. Sorry to sound mercenary but we have to be as ruthless as the players are - if he is offered a better deal then KP will go. Likewise - we have got a great chance to establish us in the prem so we have to do whats best and I’m not sure KP is the answer for a 30k per week two year deal which would tie up a big chunk of our budget?
i’m getting so bored of this.
As Mowbary said Kev’s contract will be sorted if not he will go.If he doesnt want to stay we cannot force him,with Mowbrays now how on buying players we will get agood replacement