Blackpool striker Kevin Phillips has confirmed he has put his retirement plans on hold for at least another year.
Veteran goal-getter delays retirement plans
Blackpool striker Kevin Phillips has confirmed he has put his retirement plans on hold for at least another year.
The 38-year-old signed a one-year deal with the Seasiders after being released by Birmingham last summer and intended to hang up his boots at the end of the season.
However, the former England striker has been forced into a rethink having hit 17 goals already this term - his best tally since scoring 24 for West Brom during the 2007/08 season.
Phillips has hailed manager Ian Holloway for helping him roll back the years this season and insists that it will not be forgotten when he weighs up his options for next term.
"I will definitely play for another year," he told the
Blackpool Gazette. "Whether it is here I don't know - I've not thought that far ahead.
"Let's just see what happens this season and what we do, whether we get in the play-offs or if we go to Wembley and get promoted - that would be great.
Personal training
"I am not going to make any decisions just yet. However, what I will say is that the manager has been absolutely fantastic with me, allowing me to do my own training at home and keep myself right - and it is paying off.
"To have a manager who respects and trusts you is a major, major thing for me. When I do sit down in the summer to think about what I do next year, that will have a major influence on my decision."
Phillips bagged a brace in last Saturday's 3-1 home win against Brighton and repeated the feat as Pool came from behind to claim a 3-3 draw at home to Leicester on Wednesday night.
That made it 16 goals from 35 league games for Phillips - including only 18 starts - and kept the Seasiders fifth in the Championship table heading into Saturday's trip to second-placed Reading.
"It isn't all about me, it is about the team, and I think that was a well-earned point," Phillips added after the Leicester draw.
"We could have easily lost it, we could have won it. A point was a fair result. I suppose you are always disappointed when you score three goals at home and don't win the game.
Delighted
"We'll learn from that, and we'll take it into the game at Reading at the weekend and hopefully do better.
"I am absolutely delighted with 17 goals. I am sure there are a lot of people in this ground who would never have thought I'd get 10 this year.
"Why do I say that? Because of my age and because people thought I wouldn't have started as many games as I have.
"But it just goes to show that age really is just a number. The manager believes in me and I am repaying him."
