Holloway bullish over Phillips future

Ian Holloway does not know if match-winner Matt Phillips will be at Blackpool at the end of the transfer window.

Phillips came off the bench to score the decisive goal in a 2-1 npower Championship win over Leeds at Bloomfield Road, three days after Holloway outed him as having handed in a transfer request amid interest from Barclays Premier League newcomers Southampton. He was dropped from the win at Millwall as a result, but was reintroduced to the squad on Tuesday night to devastating effect. Holloway was quick to congratulate Phillips on his performance, adding that if Southampton or any other side do want to sign the former Wycombe man before August 31 then they will have to change the mind of chairman Karl Oyston. "I watched him in training and knew he could play," Holloway said. "I watched him on Friday and he didn't look right. Interest is interest and an opportunity is when a deal is agreed and that's the only time you (as a player) should know about it. "Hopefully he'll settle back down and he'll get what he deserves one day with a really good team. I'm not saying Southampton aren't, because they are, but we can be too. We own him, my chairman owns him, but I have to say what a magnificent man he is to handle it the way he has." Asked whether he expects Southampton to return with a bid, he said: "How do I know that? At the moment I have the most immovable object in Karl Oyston who doesn't want to talk to them, take the money or negotiate. Southampton might not care anymore. Who knows? He's my player who played really well."