Mowbray firm over Phillips
08 Jul 2008 - 13:31:20
West Brom manager Tony Mowbray is prepared to lose Kevin Phillips after warning the out-of-contract striker that he is planning for life without him.
Phillips, 34, has yet to sign a new one-year contract which has been on the table since Albion's promotion to the Premier League was confirmed.
The veteran striker is holding out for a two-year contract, but Mowbray has admitted that he is fully prepared to let last season's top-scorer leave The Hawthorns.
"I'm pretty sure his preferred choice would be to stay here," he revealed. "But at this moment, it is unlikely he will stay here.
"If there's a stumbling block that we can't overcome then so be it.
"My strong belief, particularly when footballers get to 35, is that I find it very hard to hand out two-year contracts to 35-year-olds - however well they've done.
"I genuinely believe if Kevin wants to stay, he should back his ability and earn his second year.
"We're looking for another striker regardless of what he does."