Holloway insists Phillips is going nowhere (From Daily Echo)

Blackpool boss Ian Holloway insists Matt Phillips will not be joining Saints after turning down a £5m offer

6:58pm Saturday 18th August 2012 in Sport

Blackpool boss Ian Holloway has insisted he will hold on to Matt Phillips after turning down a £5m offer from Saints.

Phillips pulled out of the squad for the Seasiders’ 2-0 victory over Millwall after handing in a transfer request to try and force a move to St Mary’s.

But Holloway has no doubts he will keep hold of the 21-year-old winger and will make a stand to make his player honour his contract.

“I just want to keep the players I have here now,” he said.

“What we do we do together. We had a meeting about the Matt Phillips situation yesterday.

“The situation was so public I couldn’t lie to my players and tell them otherwise. He has handed in a transfer request but that means nothing.

“They (Southampton ) have offered £5m but we don’t need the money. So what can they do? The player is on a contract and he’s signed it.

“The lad (Phillips) is very disappointed and he is very stubborn and he didn’t feel he could play today.

“He was in my line-up until he told me that, and (Tiago) Gomes came in and he set up the first one so that’s the way it goes.”

Saints have only recruited four players this summer and have had messy public dealings over moves for Alexander Buttner, Phillips and Gaston Ramirez, who Bologna are still insisting will not be sold for less than £16m.

However, they are still keen to recruit new faces but for now, thankfully, concentrate again on the real business as they take on Manchester City in their first game back in the Premier League tomorrow.

Howev