Albion defender Paul Robinson has urged the Baggies to sort out Kevin Phillips’ future as fans wait for news on the former England man.
Robinson insists his close friend Phillips can still fire in the Premier League into his mid-30s.
He is hoping chairman Jeremy Peace will tie last season’s 24-goal top scorer down to a new deal, for the club’s return to the top flight.
He said: “It’s up in the air at the moment but hopefully it will be sorted out.”
“He is a massive player for us and in the end his goals were probably the reason we got promoted last season.
“I know that Kev would like to stay. We are close friends and our families get on really well.
“But I know whatever Kev does will have to be right for him and his family. There is no problem for me with Kev.
“He scored 24 goals last season so I don’t see a problem with his fitness. He is 34 years old but he knows his own body better than anyone else.
“If he thinks he can play on in the Premier League that is good enough for me.
“All the lads want him to stay because he is a good character to have around the place and the younger lads can learn so much from him.”
Albion are still in discussions with Phillips’ agent over a new deal, with a return to The Hawthorns still the former England man’s preferred option.
But agent Phil Smith has now gone silent over the deal and is refusing to speak to the media until his client’s future is settled.
Phillips wants a two-year contract but Albion have so far only offered a one-year deal, with a second year subject to appearances next season.
Rumours persisted today naming Newcastle’s Shola Ameobi as a possible replacement for Phillips, although mystery surrounded the scale of Albion’s interest.
Ameobi’s representatives have played down the stories but sources in Newcastle continue to insist the Baggies are interested. Albion have refused to comment.
Former Albion target Paddy McCourt has completed his move from Derry City to Celtic, signing a three-year deal at Parkhead last night.
23 Comments
My God why does this club take ages to do the business.. first we lost Gera … then Mc Court and I bet you even Phillips is on his way out soon … this stubborness of our Chairman sometimes I don’t understand. Its the same old story year in year out. Does anyone know what happened on the Mc Court story ? was it Albion that pulled out or was it him that opted for Celtic? and wasnt he a Liverpool supporter and looking forward to the trip to Anfield .. how come now he is a Celtic fan? Im I going crazy or what?
We did not sign McCourt because he wanted first team football and that is something we couldn’t offer him.
Gera went for the money and is on £40k a week, we can’t compete with clubs who are established in the prem.
If we had a different chairman we could easily end up like leeds.
Alfred Miller you must crazy, your an Albion fan for a start.
Alfred Miller, we didnt drag our feet with gera, we offered him a deal but he held out for the highest bidder! you cant make someone stay, and i certainly wouldnt give gera 40k a week!
Calm down Alfred. Even Man U haven’t been busy in signing players yet - there’s a tournament on you know. As for the chairman’s transfer strategy, anyone who can get 4 mill for ‘The Duck’ must be a genius.
alfred were all in the same boat as u will someone please by our club because peace is wasting it why didnt we keep quiet over mccourt hes a quality player! celtic put a late bid in for him an then we pulled out
Things must be quiet if the E & S is running the
” Will Phillips sign ” story again.
Agree with 2 and 4 on Gera - Money Talks and he wanted a last big deal so fair play to him - he owed us nothing.
McCourt is an Irish lad - once Celtic came knocking that was game over and let’s face it - £75 grand for a 24 year old ?? he’s not exactly a world beater is he ?
Let’s wait until July and see what happens.
In TM we trust…
Phillips will stay on a one yr deal and i really think ameobi will end up at norwich, agent trying to get more money me thinks!! To be honest i hope he does end up there, he has never really done it at newcastle and think it’s down to him not really being that bothered!!
6. Mcourt to celtic wasn’t down to us broadcasting it everywhere… did you read any statements from TM or JP???
Prob every club in UK new about him if his agent is anygood!!!!
Looks like he did a good job, prob more money for him, player and club.. END OF.
9 iv seen this lad play in ireland, jp meesed this 1 up why did he have 2 wait a week for his medical when hed already agreed personal terms???
McCourt wanted to go to a big club. Philips wants a two year deal and Albion won’t give him that. Gera already gone. But the solution is there - Shola Ameobi!!
What was the point in you going up if thats the best you can do.
It’s so obvious.Philips wants a 2 year deal,Albion think he’s only got one year left in him.Offer him 10k a week over a year or 5k a week over 2 years,sorted.Everyone happy?
Anybody else seriously worried about the lack of signings? I don’t want us to do another Derby (thank God Hull & Stoke are with us). The way I see it, our squad is nowhere near as good as the Blues was this time last year and look what happened to them. Even them lot down the road are making some good quality signings …. what’s going on???????
11..same as laffery wanted to go to a big club
Lets be honest Celtic, will play champions league football and he is almost guaranteed to win trophies up there. Realism required I think. Phillips will stay but I agree the lenth of time it takes JP to do anything is annoying. Gera went for the shilling and we can’t pay £40K per week. Ameobi? No he is not the answer let Norwcih have him. Have faith TM will have players earmarked and they will come in and do a good job for us. Is it just me, but I don’t think we need major surgery to the squad just a few quality additions and we will be fine.
Alot of other sites and papers think that Ameobi is on his way to us for as little as £2m. I know he’s not the greatest players but he has Prem experience and his goal ratio isn’t too bad considering he was mainly a sub. I’d give him a chance.
I can’t see Mowbray wanting 5 regular forwards though, so is he expecting Philips to go now?
has anyone heard any news on the potential takeover???
The people sniping at JP on here are probably the same professional whingers that continually attacked Megson. Question. Where do you draw the line on what to pay a player? I love KP but surely there has to be a limit to what you pay because someone has done well for you. The same applied to Gera. We cannot compete with Fulham financially at the moment. Zoltan looked after himself and his family financially, he’s done well for us and owed us nothing. Baggie steward. Do you really think that if we’d kept quiet about McCourt that he and his agent would have joined the conspiracy. I don’t think you’re that naive. Any Irish Catholic footballer would choose Celtic over any Prem club except perhaps United or Liverpool. There seems to be an unhealthy vocal anti JP minority. I know he’s big enough to look after himself but how short sighted can people be?
Not to be mistaken for WBAforever.
The current lack of transfer activity is not solely a Baggies domain.
Speculation is rife everywhere, but actual signings are not.
Jeremy Peace…….Damned if he does, damned if he does not.
I do not agree that he is guilty of protracted contract negotiations,
the permanent signings of Moore, Bednar, and Kim were concluded quickly and with very little fuss.
Regardless of anyone’s thoughts on KP, one year or two, an offer IS on the table, therefore, i would suggest if anyone is dragging their feet,
it is the agent.
Gera……If the biggest club in the world,
arguably Man Utd cannot hold on to Ronaldo,
then that leaves the rest of us staring into the abyss……..we do not have a chance.
dont really know wot ulot are worrying about, there is loads of speculation linking you with the likes of ameobi and baros lol
Just seen on an earlier thread, one of our ‘fans’ attacking JP for not spending money and then attacking him for signing Luke Moore for £3 mill, who he doesn’t rate as good enough. I’d like to add to this. Mr Peace. It rained at a couple of games last season and I got wet walking to the ground. Pub prices are to expensive. Sienna Miller doesn’t sit next to me. I’m sure others will add their own reasons why the chairman should go.
PEACE YOU ARE A DISGRACE, GET OUT NOW.
2and 4 totally agree.
We will get the players we need. Bringing in a lad who thinks he should be guaranteed first team football would destroy the harmony in the squad. We may not be setting the papers alight with transfer deals at present but neither is anyone else and we will have to wait for movement at the top end of the table before we can get our targets. We have already made signings anyway. Whether or not you fancy Luke Moore, he was bought with the premier in mind. so was Kim and Miller.We are in good shape and The management team will keep us moving in the right direction.
LATEST NEWS ! ALBY is signing with Baggies. According to roumers in the Denmark ( where Alby is ) its only details that seperate Wba and him. You´v heard it here first. Danish Baggie