Glory deny approach for Phillips

27 March 2009 07:31
Glory have been linked with the 35-year-old but the club have insisted no contact has been made with the player. Glory coach Dave Mitchell confirmed on Thursday that the A-League outfit were interested in securing the services of the former England striker, who has only recently returned to action after being sidelined with a hamstring problem. But Mitchell stressed on Friday that he has no intention of making an approach for Phillips. "We regret any misunderstanding in this matter and can categorically say that Perth Glory has not made any contact with Kevin Phillips," Mitchell said. "Kevin is obviously a wonderful player and the kind of top-class professional we'd like at our club. "However, he is contracted to Birmingham and we completely respect that fact. "We are working to attract the best players we can to our club and certainly that will only be done in accordance with FIFA guidelines and we are disappointed about claims otherwise." The Australian club's climbdown appears to be a conciliatory gesture after Birmingham said they would be asking the Football Association to take up the matter with FIFA on the club's behalf. A statement released by the club on Thursday read: "Birmingham City FC can confirm that they have received no approach from any club regarding Kevin Phillips, and that they would not welcome any. "In light of recent comments made by the manager of Perth Glory in today's press in respect of our player, who he acknowledges is under contract, we will be asking the FA to put a representation to FIFA on the club's behalf in respect of Australian club Perth Glory and their recent press claims over Kevin Phillips. "The club will be asking FIFA to look for a potential breach of FIFA Article 17.5 and possibly Article 18.3 in respect of Perth Glory's recent claims which clearly states that a club should not act in a manner designed to induce a breach of contract between a professional and a club to facilitate a transfer."

Source: Team_Talk