Kevin Phillips has signed a new one-year contract knowing Birmingham boss Alex McLeish would use him primarily coming off the substitute's bench again. "I wanted to stay at a level playing as high as I can, for as long as I possibly can," the 37 year old told the Birmingham Mail, outlining his reasons for staying put at St Andrew's.

"I was always going to take the chance to re-sign. I said through the season just gone I'd love to stay. I'm settled and the club did exceptionally well.

"I'm not daft, I know I'm probably going to have a similar season to last year sitting on the bench.

''But if I can come on and make some impacts, like I did, then I will be more than happy with that.

"I just want to be part of the success of Birmingham moving forward."

Phillips, who came on as substitute 17 times, added: "I have accepted it [the 'super sub' role]. I wouldn't have re-signed otherwise.

"I still believe that if I was to have moved on to a Championship team I could have played week in, week out.

''But I had a chance of playing in the Premier League. It's the lure of the Premier League, and staying here where I'm settled.

"I get on with everyone, I'd like to think that the supporters kind of like me. So I'm delighted to have re-signed and, as I've said all along, it's easier to go down the leagues in your career than it is to go up."