Albion boss Tony Mowbray was today braced for the departure of Kevin Phillips as he admitted a deal to keep the striker is now “very unlikely”.
Phillips is in advanced talks with Birmingham about a move to St Andrew’s, despite the offer of a new deal at The Hawthorns.
And Mowbray is unwilling to budge on Phillips’ demand for a two-year deal, making last year’s 24-goal leading scorer almost certain to depart.
Mowbray said: “At this moment I would suggest it is very unlikely that he will stay here, unfortunately.
“I think his preferred option would be to stay here, but if there is a stumbling block on the contract then that makes it unlikely will stay.
“It centres around the terms of the contract and my belief that we shouldn’t start handing out two-year contracts to footballers who are 35 years old.”
Birmingham have offered Phillips the two-year contract he wants with a hefty financial package, while Albion have only offered one year up front with a second 12months subject to appearances.
Mowbray said: “It is my belief that if Kevin wants to stay here he should back his ability and earn the second year, which wouldn’t be a major task under the terms of the contract we have offered.
“But I don’t want to get into a disagreement with Kevin because I respect him too much.”
Albion officially unveiled new £3.2m signing Gianni Zuiverloon this morning and the Dutchman revealed he had rejected interest from rival Premier League clubs to move to The Hawthorns.
Zuiverloon said: “My manager in Holland told me there was interest from other teams, but I wanted to come here because of the way this team likes to play football.”
Zuiverloon is set to miss the start of the season as he heads to China to represent Holland in the Olympics.
58 Comments
The fact that KP has put money before his own preferance just highlights everything thats wrong with the modern game.
When a multi millionaire decides to turn down a lucrative contract in the prem for a more lucrative contract in the CCC then the game is finished.
Full respect to KP for his two years here - but he should just leave now.
On the bright side - i wonder who TM has lined up to replace him ??
After the above statement from TM, i would hope all the people criticizing JP and his perceived tightness, hereby give him a break.
It is quite apparent the terms of the deal being offered to Phillips, are based on the guidance of the manager.
Just read the story on the wolves pages about Mclean asking Posh for a massive contract and then handing in his transfer request when he didn’t get it.
It seems ALL footballers now just follow the biggest contract. There is no loyalty, no real belonging to a club, and players will play anywhere for anyone as long as the money is right.
As for KP - if you can’t end your career in the prem on 15/20k a week (thats 60/80k a month) then there is something seriously wrong with your priorities - but it aint just him.
BREAKING NEWS - Super Kev Spotted On His Bike At Cannock Chase - Wolves want 17 strikers before the start of the season just in case of injury
All the best Kev - you were a great player and you did a great job for us. I’m sure you’ll do well over at City.
But we have to look to the future of the club and we can’t be held to randsom by players who are unlikley to last the pace in the Premiership. We need new blood and I’m sure TM has got plenty of other options open to him.
dont the greed make ya want to throw up,just go and good riddance, boing boing
Can’t believe KP has taken the porn kings shilling and jumped into bed with karen brady.
There you go - tomorrows headilne for the Sport !
KP may have been one of my favourite players, who probably contributed the most to our automatic promotion, but i completely agree with Mowbray on this. He appreciates no player is bigger than this club and i think it’s fair enough that he won’t just give out a 2 year deal to someone who is 35.
The more he speaks, the more i love him.
If he signs a few more players with the Zuiverloon mentality that is, they want to be here because of the style of football and to relish the Premiership challenge, that is fine by me!
Did well for the club, but Mowbray is building for the future and a 35 year old striker with a history of knee problems wouldn’t cause too many headaches for Premiership Defences. I just hope his replacement isn’t Amiobi!
Why talk about greed? If a decent club like Blues want to take the risk and come knocking with a 2 year contract then why shouldn’t he go for it? Don’t talk about loyalty, he was only her for 2 seasons anyway.
He’s a professional, is out of contract, and owes nothing to the Albion, just like Gera and Alby. Thanks for the memories Kev, and your massive contribution to getting us promoted. Now we need to move onnwards and upwards.
Why aren’t Wolves in for Kevin Phillips for God’s sake - he’ll guarantee us 20+ goals and get us up for sure!
11 i agree the fact that the wolves have not wanted to talk to phillips is baffling he would seem to be want they need i suspect that the blues would give him a much better deal though.
11. Most likely because you can’t afford to match his wages at WBA or Birmingham.
I suggest that a big contribution to KP’s success last season was due to the management of TM. Not only the style of football but the way KP was rotated and rested when necessary to keep him fresh - is he sure that this will happen at another club when is work load will be far greater. When KP was asked to play a lot of games at the end of the season is form dropped and the goals dried up a bit. I think that if KP had been at any other club in the championship last season a two year contract would not have even been on the agenda. Surely another bash at the top flight is preferable to a battle in the championship.
wages are to high for wolves,wwfc have a pay structure they wont go over,thats why we are buying younger players with potential to improve and giving those players long 4 year contracts to capitilise on the progression.
we dont need kp! we got seb,vokes,kites and jarvis there all 100x better than him
Barmy Army
11.Rosswolf
That’s because he likes to score against you, not for you!
I cant see him being missed. a good goalscorer but has lost that vital burst of initial pace needed in the prem. How many games would he really play in the prem. certainly couldnt see him starting many games. It was proved a few years ago he cant cut it at the highest level. I’m more surprised Albion actually wanted to keep him.
Totally agree with you Happy - per my comment on the earlier Blog thread. I just can’t see any other reason bar finances why he’d rather play in the championship than for us in the Prem. Sad indeed. It makes me chuckle to hear that he’ll sign for Blues because his advisors recommend a 2 year deal - Kev, you can make your own mind up, you’re a big boy now!
A massive loss tho. TM please please please don’t sign Ameobi……….
10. themowbrayway
I think you’ve missed the point completely. No one has mentioned loyalty or lack of it. If KP goes he’ll go with all Albion fans best wishes I’m sure - genuine class act. I just find it hard to understand why (if the rumours are true) KP is choosing Blues over Albion based on finances when he already has far more money than he can ever realistically ever spend. Surely a guaranteed chance at the Prem is worth more than the extra cash he’ll earn over the next two years? And who’s to say he wouldn’t be offered the 2nd year at the Albion? Will he have more chance of playing at Blues than Albion? Not convinced myself, especially if McFadden stays.
Luke Moore is the key for us this season. He has to step to the plate and prove his worth.
16.. Think your slightly going over the top 100 times better than Phillips…. I dont think so.
As I have stated before at CCC level KP is still a force to be reckoned with . His knowledge of the game is second to none in that league. Its not only his goal scoring its his off the ball work at prem level who knows and guess we wont find out.
but KP either go or stay stop messing around!!!!
13 - I bet they could, that Morgan fella’s loaded.
They just haven’t realised that having a proven goalscorer in your team is a good thing!!
I was a bit disturbed by this, but when you see that the contract is there for 2 years as long as Phillips performs, it suggests to me he’s looking for the easier option…..never mind!
16 - This silliness must stop!!
If they achieve 50% of what KP has over his career, they’ll have had a very good innings indeed!
Beeover
You are certainly not alone in hoping that the Ameobi rumour carries no substance.
If indeed ToMo does pursue his signature, then it is likely you will see an entirely different Ameobi to the one under big Sam,et al
Remember mate, our manager converted Greening from a touchline hugger into arguably the most influential playmaker in last years championship, and for what it`s worth, my particular player of the season.
I am therefore happy to trust his judgement,
but i do not expect him to sign, after all, we HAVE been linked with him.
Happy baggie slates the greed of players and rightly so,but i bet he”d keep paying stupid prices to watch them and feeds the hand that bites in sky sports.enough is enough for me now i shan”t be paying 40 quid next season its immoral.
Well said TM as always. the manager and KP always had a different opinion on the players fitness. Kev always thought he could play 90mins week in and out but TM obviously disagreed. That is probably still the case and TM isnt going to pay top dollar for a player he will utilize less and less as the season progresses. Good luck to Kevin Phillips because he has been an absolute pleasure to watch and support. We have reached a crossroads and will be going in different directions. TM will use KPs wages and bring in another old head with less miles on the clock.
Terry is that m/t seats behind him aye boing boing
I’ve said it before, KP has been nothing but excellent for the Albion!!
However, I’d rather read about Dorrans and Zuiverloon saying they want to prove themselves in the Premier League, play football in the right way and grow with the Albion. To me, that sounds much better than anything else! Young, talented players who WANT TO IMPROVE WHILST AT WEST BROMWICH ALBION!! More of that for me please!
go on KEV put the ball in the DINGLES net and still be a BAGGIES LEGEND even without playing for us..
GOOD LUCK KEV
STILL THINK YOU COULD HAVE DONE A TWO YEAR JOB FOR US
I wouldnt be suprised if he decides to stop at the Baggies nothing is going to happen untill the is agent is back in the country.
Farewell then Super KP
You’ve gone for the gold
But you were getting quite old
Ne’er mind the goals will still flow
When you visit old Molineaux
happy_baggie stop trying to reassure yourself about phillips. mc clean wants to lave peterbrough for wolves, a step up in football a bigger club and probably more money. Theres more factors to these things then m oney. Gera was settled in the area but apart from more money he has a better chance to play premiership football for a few years at fulham. KP has dragged this thing out. Look at Olofinjana he signed a new deal so wolves could get their money back if we didnt go up and he could leave a gentlemans agreement, there seems to be nothing gentlemanly about any of albions players. Robbie Keane and Lescott both done similar things to Olofinjana in the past, maybe we look after our players more or they just have a more genuine love for wolves?
Just realised, I missed Alby’s passing.
Goodbye then Martin, Derby bound
Your timings not great
You’re one year too late
Still you’ve missed all those defeats
And there’s still the Wolves to beat
Don’t blame him for leaving. Why stay in a team already destined for the drop.
Good to see the fans behind TM on this one.The club must be run by the manager not the players. It’s all grab grab grab !! Good bye Kev to the other side of the city.
22. Granted he’s a wealthy man but not in football terms so I doubt he can compete with the premiership cash WBA and Birmingham can spend at the moment.
tink ur most wrong telliing him to go slagging him off hes been best sriker for ages with us and he deserves a 2 year contract no matter what sack the board sack the board tight fisted *******
27,ww,yes they are but there red ones,so it cant only be dingles that dont get very good crowds aye boing boing
I`d be happy to see AMEOBI at the club,it
sounds like he really wants to come and play
for TONY MOWBRAY and WESTBROMWICH ALBION FC,
so Jeremy Peace should sign him up.
People forget that this guy has PREM experience
and he also has a thing called pace,something
KEVIN PHILLIPS doesn`t have.
PLEASE SIGN HIM UP MR PEACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It’s not rocket science-premiership defences are,or should be,the best in the country,so an effective striker needs skill,FITNESS and PACE.I’m afraid a 35 year old with dodgy knees can still hack it in lower divisions,but not the top flight.TM knows this,which is why he is standing firm.KP played a big part in taking us up,but the fact that no other prem. club wants him tells you all you need to know.
wolverhampton council have refused wolves a new stadium in a near by park,they said its ok to have a fair on it once a year but a circus every 2 weeks is too much, aye boing boing
it will be sad to see super kev go because i think he could have done a job for us in the prem, but youve always got to keep moving forward as a club so i understand the baggies stance, lets just hope we can replace him with a young hungry striker- in mowbray we trust boing boing
IF he goes, he goes with my best wishes & thanx. Would’ve been great used sparingly for the coming season in the prem, although 2 seasons may have been stretching it(who can really be sure?).
However, as i see it nothings changed/developed in this story since the last time E&D ran it, TM is quoted as saying he thinks it unlikey he’ll stay - but philips still has to come back with a decision, hes keeping his options open - fair play.
1-0 up 20 mins to go… we need a striker who can hold the ball up to take pressure off…
Where is kev??????
We trust TM but hey we’ll miss him!!
Bet wolves hate it too!! Oh dear more goals v u lot….
Good luck KP.
good morning premiership fans good morning chumpionship fans aye boing boing
I was surprised Wolves didn’t go in for KP until I realised those 22 goals expected to score would all be OWN GOALS! He wouldn’t be able to stop himself!
Good morning to you Stud Muffin Cyril
I hope that you are Fit, Well and Happy
Sending you loadza uggabuggaz from Ajay with a y :o)
p.s Keep Your Pecker Up If You Dare !!!!
14 Wall Heath.
Great points. No one knows until the season gets going but I think you may have hit the nail on the head. After a few seasons of looking a bit past his best, KP has enjoyed an Indian summer under TM’s sympathetic management. I remember this season Megson saying of Campo ‘he’s a 36 year old who thinks he’s 26 and can play every game.’ Kev seems to be the same, in football time waits for no man.
as soon as kp leaves mow will have another striker entering the shrine,,another legend will be born,,this team of ours will just get better and better,,young and hungry baggies on the march and playin the mowbray way,,,cant wait for the season to start….PLAYIN IN THE PREM THE MOWBRAY WAY,,IN STYLE OF COURSE,,OOOOOOOOOOOOOH YES………….MORNING TERRY MATE..
Terry 41 - possibly your greatest moment - brilliant !!
Ameobi the biggest donkey in sight and stoke fans will back me up on that one, he will help you to premiership safety…not! the defenders on your books are worse than derbys of last season and you win games 4-3 in the premiership it won’t be like last season. Hey terry I heard that roman abramovich’s son will be taking over as chairman after xmas as he’s asked his dad to buy him a cowboy outfit for christmas?! Who are you going to finish above next season? Hull? NO. Stoke will get more points because at home although unattractive their affective and their bound to take 6 points off you with your record against them, going down the mowbray way, a shambles!
LW
Thank you for your unbiased and insightful views.
You are right about Stoke, but it could be time for a change of fortune against that lot.
If you honestly believe Hull and Stoke will finish above us……..fancy a little wager ?
Is anyone still bothering to read laughed at wolfs attempts to be clever ??
Is anyone remotely interested in his “unbiased” and “informed” views on the albion ? I managed to get three words into his last offering before scrolling on..
Does anyone really believe he is a successful investor with a huge portfolio - but can’t spell, or type, or constuct a paragraph that makes sense ??
Sorry if laughed at feels I am picking on him - but if you insist on peddling your pathetic drivel on here, be prepared to be laughed at.
Even his fellow wolves fans regularly mock him on here.
Laughed at - give it up. No one cares, no one reads your tripe and you are becoming a figure of fun to rival Michael - and he is our jester !!
Mornin’ Terry, AJay and Worcester. Fit and well and ready to be a ‘Stud Muffin’ whatever that is!
Good gag about The Circus mate, you touched a nerve on Loffin’Wolf. I certainly hope he gets a qualified secretary in this new Bristol venture.
Yow cor write ‘their’ when yow mean ‘they are’ or they’re. Even saft-born Great Bridge kids loik me know tha’. Loffin, yow dictert yer letters un let her type ‘em mate. That way yow’m off the ‘ook aer kid.
get him gone,another eastwood……
55. blondewulf. Not another Eastwood, KP actually scores goals!.
55. blondewolf. How can you compare KP to Eastwood?. SuperKev scored the goals that got us promoted, what did Freddy do for you?.
Quite glad to see the back of him. Not performed for over 2 seasons now. Well past his best