Exclusive: Kevin Phillips responds to Darren Fletcher comments about West Brom exit
We’re delighted to welcome former West Brom striker Kevin Phillips as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at The Hawthorns…
Kevin Phillips is sure that Darren Fletcher had his reasons to leave West Brom to join Stoke City in 2017 in light of the midfielder’s recent comments.
Speaking to The Lockdown Tactics podcast last week, 36-year-old Fletcher suggested he had some regrets about leaving the close-knit dressing room at The Hawthorns to join what he called a “bad environment” at Stoke.
Fletcher, who is yet to officially retire and has been a free agent since last summer, made 97 appearances in all competitions during his two-and-a-half-year spell at The Hawthorns, wearing the captain’s armband for a great deal of those outings.
He thoroughly enjoyed his time at the Baggies and the fans were also thrilled to have such a decorated player in the heart of their midfield, showcasing an immense amount of leadership and composure.
However, West Brom released Fletcher at the end of the 2016/17 season, despite him playing in all 38 Premier League fixtures, and he ended up joining Stoke on a free transfer.
Ex-Baggies forward Phillips arrived at Stoke not long after Fletcher did and he could see the leadership characteristics that the former Scotland and Manchester United midfielder possessed.
Phillips reckons that one of the main reasons Fletcher left West Brom for Stoke was to be nearer to Manchester but the ex-Potters coach has suggested there may be other reasons too.
When asked if Fletcher left too soon, Phillips told West Brom News: “Possibly. He was a leader at West Brom, he was the captain. I know him fairly well from our time at Stoke together.
“He’s a leader. Everyone looks up to him, everyone respects him in the dressing room.
“I thought he did very well for West Brom but going to Stoke, it was a bit nearer to his Manchester home. That might be one reason why he did move on.
“He’s had a wonderful career. The crowd liked him at West Brom but he was probably getting to that stage of his career where both parties were looking at different angles.
“The club were probably looking at bringing in someone a bit younger.”
West Brom did not bring in someone younger as Fletcher’s replacement was Gareth Barry, who arrived from Everton at the age of 36.
Barry has done well at the Baggies but has never really been as popular among the fans as Fletcher was.
Perhaps that was down to him playing a role in the relegation season, the infamous taxi-gate in Barcelona or his ties to Aston Villa.
In other West Brom news, Jimmy Shan has sent a message to this 21-year-old player after he announced he was leaving the Baggies.