June 16 2013

Kevin Phillips

KEVIN PHILLIPS admits he's desperate to stay at Crystal Palace and enjoy one last season at the top level.

The striker's cool-as-you-like penalty in the play-off final against Watford helped the Eagles win promotion to the Premier League.

And now he wants to end a glittering career by becoming the division's oldest outfield player at the grand old age of 40 next season.

"Another season in the Premier League would be a dream come true," he said. "Hopefully, that will be as a Palace player next season.

"If Palace make me an offer, I’m keen to stay. It’s a no-brainer. I had a chat with Ian Holloway after the Wembley game and he said he wanted me to stay, so hopefully I will be a Palace player next season.

"I’m not daft enough to think I’ll start every game next season, but there will only be Giggsy as old as me in the Premier League. If it happens, and that will be nice.

"I never count my chickens, but it would probably be my last season as a player and it would be so much better to bow out at the top like Becks, Michael Owen and Scholesey have done. That’s what I want to do."

Co-chairman Steve Parish added: "It is certainly something we will look at next week. KEVIN is a super professional and someone we feel can still do a job in the Premier League."