Phillips Rejects Shots Move
By Matt Pitman

Wednesday 16th February 2005

TERRAS striker Lee Phillips has rejected a move to Aldershot Town.

Weymouth boss Steve Johnson yesterday accepted an undisclosed 'nominal' fee from the Conference National side for the 24-year-old frontman.

But the deal was called off after the former Plymouth Argyle marksman turned down a switch to the full-time Hampshire outfit.

Johnson, whose side began full-time training at Redlands today, told Echosport:

Aldershot are on the lookout for a new striker and their manager Terry Brown made us an offer for Lee Phillips which we felt was acceptable.

"I put the offer to Lee but he said he was not interested in moving to Aldershot.

"Lee is keen to return to fulltime football at a higher level and when I arrived at the club I said I would do all I could to make that happen.

"Aldershot are a full-time club playing in a league above us so when the offer came in I kept my side of the bargain and kept Lee informed of the approach.

"But he obviously feels the move is not the right one at this stage of his career and so he remains a Weymouth player."

However, Phillips, who was being tracked by Reading earlier in the season, is unlikely to be a Weymouth player for much longer.

Aldershot's divisional rivals Exeter City are understood to be interested in the striker.

But one potential stumbling block over any deal is that Phillips' former club Plymouth would be owed 40 per cent of any transfer fee.

Johnson said: "Lee naturally wants to progress his career and I wouldn't stand in his way if a chance comes along allowing him to do that.

"But any deal would have to be the right one for the football club and on our terms."

The Terras boss now plans to step up his search for new signings and plans to field a couple of trialists in a friendly against Yeovil Town at the Wessex Stadium tonight, 7.30pm.

He said: "Kirk Jackson's pending three-match ban, obviously now leaves us a bit light up front because we only have Lee Phillips and Ludo Cadima.

"My priority now is to bring in a top quality goals corer.

"Another area I'm keen to strengthen as a matter of urgency is a strong holding midfielder who will give us a little bit of added experience.

"One of the downs ides with having such a young side is that the lads can be a little bit inconsistent.

"But unfortunately its no good only having one good game every three, we need acceptable performances week in and week out.

''An older head in the midfield on the park would give us something a bit extra and help the younger lads.

"I'm working hard to get a couple of new players in and hopefully there might be one or two new faces against Yeovil tonight."