After being 'fed up' of waiting, Kevin Phillips shakes off scepticism & relishes South Shields challenge; 'I'll be very positive, and if the players can be the same, we will be on to a winner'.
Byline: By, Mark Carruthers
Former Sunderland and England striker Kevin Phillips has shaken off any initial scepticism over his appointment of manager of Northern Premier League club South Shields.
The 48-year-old will kick off his managerial career when his new side face Premier Division promotion rivals Warrington Town this weekend before making his home bow against Witton Albion on Tuesday night.
Those fixtures will see Phillips thrust into a high-pressure environment as the Mariners look to continue their push for promotion into the National League North.
They also round off a whirlwind week for the South Tyneside club after they parted company with former manager Graham Fenton last Sunday morning.
Black Cats legend Phillips was the surprising choice as his successor in a move that has provoked scepticism from many around the non-league scene.
Phillips admitted his initial reaction to a call from Mariners chairman Geoff Thompson followed a similar pattern -but insisted the move was a "no-brainer" once he had taken advice and opinion from a number of sources.
He told Chronicle Live: "You are a bit sceptical to start off with because is it a level I want to go in
"You speak to a lot of people, who say they are negative and they say if you go in at that level and don't succeed, you'll probably never get another opportunity.
"I understand that, but it gets to a point in your life where you are fed up of waiting.
"I've waited for three years and there hasn't been anything.
"Coupled with the ambition here, I spoke to my mate who is very knowledgeable about North East football in general and he has friends that are season ticket holders here.
"He said it's almost looking like a no-brainer if that's what you want to do.
I spoke to people in the game, got their advice and there's not one person that said it wasn't a good opportunity.
Phillips' appointment as South Shields manager brings an end to a three-year absence from the game where he made his name as a much-feared striker.
A move into coaching with Derby County, Leicester City and Stoke City gave Phillips a taste of life on the other side of the touchline and gave him a hunger to move into the lead role in the dugout.
However, many onlookers have speculated that his managerial career could be over before it has begun if he is unable to find success with South Shields.
That is, however, not a point of view that Phillips is willing to take.
"I don't look at it like that," he explained.
"If...
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