Kevin Phillips has warned “tough decisions” must be made in the aftermath of South Shields play-off semi-final defeat against Warrington Town. The Sunderland legend had hoped to end his first season in charge of the Mariners by celebrating promotion into the National League North - but those hopes were ended by a penalty shoot-out loss at the 1st Cloud Arena.
The tie was taken to a shoot-out after visitors forward Jordan Buckley punished some sloppy defending to cancel out a first-half strike from Darius Osei. With no further goals during extra-time, it was the Yellows that progressed with a 7-6 win on penalties to set up a play-off final meeting with Scarborough Athletic.
South Shields will now focus their attention on their first close-season under Phillips and the Mariners boss is keen to conduct an “overhaul” of his squad. The former England striker has only made one signing since he was appointed in January and that came when he took Sunderland youngster Sam Wilding on loan last month.
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Phillips has promised more new faces will arrive over the summer and several players are expected to depart as he looks to put his own stamp on the Mariners squad.
He told Chronicle Live: “I will say now, there will be players in that dressing room that won’t be here next year. There will be players that will be and there will be players added.
“It needs an overhaul, I need new players in and I will have to make tough decisions - but I am not afraid to do it. That is what I have been brought here for and I am sure I will have the backing of Geoff (Thompson, South Shields owner), who has been incredible this season.
“We are all desperate to get promoted but I have big decisions to make this summer. It starts tomorrow, it’s been bubbling away in the background anyway. I’ve got it in my head, players, positions and that’s what you do.
“We need to act quick because if you don’t get the players you want, other teams snap them up. There will be some activity over the next few weeks.”
Phillips backed full-back Jordan Hunter and academy graduate Will Jenkins to “come back stronger” after they both missed penalties during the shoot-out. Jenkins had a golden opportunity to put his side into Monday’s final as he stepped up to take his spot-kick after Myles Boney had saved from Warrington defender Marc Roberts.
Evan Gumbs put the visitors 6-5 before Yellows keeper Daniel Atherton kept out the decisive penalty from Hunter to take his side to within 90 minutes of a place in non-league’s second tier. Phillips insisted he will “defend those players to the hilt” and is confident his squad will learn from the experience.
He said: “I’ll shoulder most of the blame because I was brought here to get this club promoted and I’ve fallen short. I will take the whole of the blame if that’s what’s needed.
“I’m sure there’ll be plenty of people on social media blaming me and that’s fine, I have broad enough and big enough shoulders - I can take it. But I’ll defend those players to the hilt.
“For the lads that were brave enough to step up and take the penalties, I give them credit because I’ve been there and it’s tough. I really, really feel for Jordan and Jenks but it’s a learning curve and football is all about that. You have to learn from that, it will make them bigger and stronger characters and players. They’ll come back stronger.”t
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