Lee Bowyer: Dillon Phillips could be forgotten if he does not get move away with Charlton Athletic
Lee Bowyer has warned Dillon Phillips he runs the risk of becoming “forgotten” if he does not seal a Charlton Athletic exit before the transfer deadline.
The 24-year-old was the club’s Player of the Year in the Championship last season but has not featured since relegation.
Bowyer has opted to start Ben Amos with Ashley Maynard-Brewer as back up, the young Australian getting minutes in the EFL Trophy ties.
Bowyer has frozen out Phillips because he will not sign a new contract and is a free agent at the end of June.
Both Middlesbrough and Birmingham were interested but have since landed other targets. Bournemouth is a possibility but they need to offload Asmir Begovic first.
“I said to his agent that something should have happened with Dillon and it didn’t, through no fault of ours,” said Bowyer.
“We wanted Dillon to stay and sign a new contract. But they’ve chosen that it is not the right thing for him to do. That’s their decision, we can’t make them.
“The problem you’ve got in football – I said it to his agent and it might sound harsh – but you’re easily forgotten. If Dillon doesn’t go, what’s he going to do? Because we’ve got Ben in goal and he was outstanding at the weekend. Ben is a good goalie and Ashley is going to be number two.
“What’s Dillon going to do if he doesn’t go? He is going to sit there not playing any games and is going to be forgotten next summer – no-one is going to take him.
“Sometimes agents get involved and think they know best, they think the game revolves around them. But it’s not the case that their advice is the right advice for a player every time.
“I feel for players. It’s wrong. Players take gambles and listen to agents – that’s not just aimed at Dillon, I’m talking in general.
“If he ends up staying with us, that’s not our fault.”
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Well said Lee. How many times have we seen players have their heads turned because agents get too involved. Not everyone that moves to another club where they think they will be better off, actually succeed. Sometimes it’s better to stay where you are, and as with Dillon, who was revered by the Charlton faithful, and voted player of the year, which is no mean feat, he may be better off staying at the club that gave him his big chance. In my book, I would rather stay at a club where you are respected and liked by the fans than take the risk of going to a club where you may end up in the wilderness. OK, there are some players who move on and because of their outstanding skills, they do very well and, of course, make more money. Oops, I nearly forgot that important issue. But it could also be a very risky career move.