Phillips wants to play another season

Birmingham's veteran striker Kevin Phillips has vowed to continue playing for at least one more season after hitting the 250-goal mark in his career.

'Super Kev' reached the milestone with a last-gasp equaliser against Arsenal in a 1-1 draw at St Andrew's on Saturday.

Phillips is out of contract in the summer and is determined to play on, with or without Birmingham.

He said: "It means a lot to get to 250 goals. It has been a great career and it is certainly not over yet. I've built a career on putting the ball away when it comes into the box.

"You don't just lose that overnight. I will lose my legs eventually. I am not a player who will run past players at pace. But, give me the ball in the box, and I'd like to think a good percentage of the time, I'll put it in the back of the net.

"Someone said to me, who is well respected in the game, that you want to play at the highest level as long as you can. It is easier to go down than to come back up.

"I won't be one of those players in three or four years time who will still be playing in the lower divisions. The Championship is as far down as I would go. You are a long time retired and I want to carry on playing for as long as possible.

"I'm going to start my coaching badges in a couple of weeks. I think it is important I get them on board.

"You just never know, you might get a call at the end of the season to become a player/coach. As long as you've got the qualifications, then I would look at that although I'm not saying I'd definitely do it.

"At this stage of my career, I just want to concentrate on playing for next season. I am definitely going to play on for another season.

"I feel fit to play on for another year or two, definitely another year. I'm not ready to retire yet."

Phillips believes Blues' last-gasp equaliser against the Gunners once again highlighted the never-say-die spirit manager Alex McLeish has built into the team.

He said: "That showed what we have been all about this season. We have gone behind numerous times this season and never let our heads drop. We always believe we can get back into a game. To come back against a side with the quality of Arsenal, shows a lot of character.

"We've frustrated teams and managed to score in vital games at the right time. We haven't scored bundles of goals but we have scored crucial goals.

"Now we want to finish as high as we possibly can in the Premier League and not let what has been a great season tail off in the last few games."

McLeish felt his side deserved a draw and praised Phillips after he had scored the 250th goal of his career.

He said: "I think we deserved it. It was a kick in the guts when they went ahead with 10 minutes to go. But again we showed that never-say-die attitude and Kevin came up trumps again.

"We have been giving him a cameo role this season and it was the sort of goal he has been getting all his career. He is a great credit to his profession."