Southampton: The ball's in Kev's court now

The chairman of Southampton FC, who have bid £3m for Kevin Phillips, says he's done everything he can to persuade the player that St Mary's Stadium is the place to resurrect his stalled Premiership career.

Rupert Lowe said that the club has been in lengthy negotiations with Phillips and his agent, and that the next move must now be Kev's.

Lowe said "We've agreed a fee, now it's a question of the player and his agent deciding if this is the place he wants to come - which we hope he will."

But he continued by emphasising that Gordon Strachan's squad-strengthening would continue - irrespective of Kev's decision.

"We are strengthening the squad and looking to strengthen before the season starts and the transfer window closes."