Kevin Phillips: ‘Ambitious’ South Shields targeting instant promotion

Heading into this weekend’s action, the Mariners lie third in the division, six points off top spot.

However, they have played three games less than second-placed Bamber Bridge, one spot above them in the table, and have two games in hand over league leaders Matlock Town.

Despite sealing a 2-0 home win over Radcliffe last time out, the club made the decision to part ways with previous boss Graham Fenton after five-and-a-half years in charge.

He was swiftly replaced by Phillips, 48, a former Sunderland, Aston Villa and West Brom forward with eight appearances for the England national team.

After their midweek clash with Ashton United was postponed, Phillips’ first assignment is a difficult away trip to Warrington Town, another team in the hunt for promotion in 2021/22.

Speaking ahead of the fixture, he said: “The challenge is there straight away to get out of this league, it’s as simple as that.

“We are potentially more of a scalp now, people will want to beat us. We have to deal with that as players.

“[For me] to be able to come to a non-league club, three tiers down from the football league, and they’re full-time, it’s unheard of.

“I’m here now and trying to take the club forward. At this level, the facilities are excellent.”

Phillips has already held a variety of coaching roles at Leicester City, Derby County and Stoke City, but feels that now is the time to take the step up to being number one.

It’s a challenge for me,” he told the club’s official YouTube channel. “Because when you haven’t been on the grass for three years, you’re dusting off your coaching sessions, and times have changed.

“But, you know, it’s like riding a bike. Once you get your first [session] out of the way, it all comes flooding back. You get that enthusiasm.”

Discussing their difficult run of fixtures coming up, he added: “We’ve got some big games coming up, but they’re the benchmarks.

“If we can go and get results against them, it puts us in a great position moving forward for the rest of the season.

“I’m excited to pit myself against other managers who are more experienced than me at this level.”