Phillips steps down as South Shields manager after promotion
Phillips joined South Shields in January 2022 to take his first job in management
Written by Training Ground Guru — April 23, 2023
KEVIN PHILLIPS has stepped down as South Shields manager after leading the side to the Northern Premier League Premier Division title.
The 49-year-old, who took over at the club in January 2022, said he was leaving “for a number of reasons”, although he did not specify what these were.
Phillips spoke to TGG earlier this month and outlined his ambition of taking South Shields all the way to the Football League.
“We need to go for another title next year and go for it again,” he said. “Then, before you know it, we could find ourselves close to the EFL.”
However, on Saturday night Shields announced they had parted company with the former Sunderland and England forward by mutual consent.
Phillips said: “I feel that this is the right time for me to depart, for a number of reasons. To be manager of South Shields has been an amazing experience and I’m very grateful for everything Geoff has done during my time at the club.
“I’ve given my heart and soul to this club and I’m disappointed to leave, but I’ve been in football a long time and I know things can change very quickly.
“There are lots of different factors behind this mutual decision, but I’d like to place on record my thanks to everyone connected to the club and I wish whoever comes in next all the success in the world.
“I was brought here to do a job and I did it, and although I’d have loved to have taken it further, circumstances have changed and I’ll be supporting the club in the next phase of its journey from afar.”
Owner and Chairman Geoff Thompson added: “This has been a very difficult decision to come to, particularly given the successful season we have just enjoyed.
“We are hugely grateful to Kevin for his work over the last 15 months and the role he has played in delivering a promotion we have been striving for since 2018. “He will always hold a special place in our history and we wish him nothing but success in his career.”
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