Come in No 21, your time is up

It was all change down the training ground on Tuesday.

The builders are extending the car park. For new signings? Perhaps. For the return of Earny and his ridiculous Hummer? Possibly not. For a drive-thru McDonald's, just in case Big John returns? Let's hope not.

There were more alterations inside.

The backdrop used for press conferences - the club badge surrounded the shirt sponsors' logo - has no reference whatsoever to a phone company. T-Who? That'll be the fickle world of shirt sponsorship for you.

Elsewhere there were more journalists than usual at yesterday's press conference (to unveil Gianni Zuiverloon incidentally). Last season it was myself, two or three press colleagues and a couple of regional radio stations. If I had so wished I could have brought a couple of mates and their pets. Not any more. The national press and TV companies have suddenly remembered the way to Albion's training ground. That'll be the Premier League for you.

And then there was bay 21 in the car park.

Empty.

I spoke rather loudly about the need to hand Kevin Phillips a two year deal when this issue first came up back in April - so loudly that the Albion chairman frowned at my enthusiasm.

Yet I actually sympathise with Albion. After all, Phillips is a 35-year-old, give or take a few days, he has a wobbly knee and, as a result, may struggle to maintain his form. He is one poor challenge away from not playing again, so much so that Blues made thorough checks into the condition of his knee.

I can see why Peace and Tony Mowbray stepped away from offering a two-year deal.

On the flip side if we're to assume Phillips was to earn £20k a week for two years then it would roughly translate to about £2.1million over the term of his deal.

Now consider signing a replacement. A Premier League-proven striker, who can score goals at the highest level and create for others. He'd cost a lot more. And the rest.

Would Kev have lasted another year or two in the top flight? Well here's the thing - Albion offered him one year plus a 12 month option based on making 19 performances and, ominously, he opted against the risk.

Perhaps he already knows the answer. And that's the crux of it. It was his choice to back away rom the challenge. I believe Kev would have accepted Albion's terms had he been more confident about his knee.

I also had to smile at the press statement issued by the club which made a cheeky reference to Phillips turning 35 later this month and pointed out his poor strike rate on the last occasion he played in the top flight.

Hindsight will now weave its fickle way through the final two years of his career. Let's revisit this debate in 2010.

In the meantime, good luck to him. He was a tremendous servant for Albion.

Mind you one thing hasn't changed down at Albion's training ground. They can spend millions on international footballers, offer top facilities, provide the best medical care and sport science research.

But can I get a Vodafone signal? Can I hell.