Phillips fears losing his stars (From Bournemouth Echo)

Phillips fears losing his stars

5:27pm Tuesday 2nd March 2010 in

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Swanage Town and Herston boss Jason Phillips admits he is worried about losing some of his star names to higher powers.

Since taking charge at the start of last season, the former Poole Borough manager has lifted Swans off the bottom of the table and turned them into genuine title contenders.

His side has a lot of work to do this term, as they currently trail leaders Hamworthy Recreation by eight points.

They are level on 43 points with second-placed Chickerell United, although the Chickens have three games in hand.

But wherever Swans finish, Phillips believes people are starting to take notice of his players.

The likes of Aaron Corby and Jacob Harrop were part of the team which was bottom of the DPL in the 2007/08 season.

However, Phillips admits their recent success has thrust them into the limelight and is worried he could face a battle to retain their services.

He said: “You attract better players when you’re winning. The only problem is the ones who are playing well attract interest from higher clubs.

“I would never stand in anyone’s way if they want to play at a higher level, but I do get upset when they go sideways.

“I would have loved to have kept Richard Sands, who went to Ham Rec, with us this year. He could have made all the difference.

“But that’s what happens. When you’re playing well, people come and look at your players.

“With Aaron Corby and Jacob Harrop doing so well for the DPL representative side, they could be in the final of the FA National League Systems Cup and there will be even more people looking at them.

“But fair play to them; they’ve put the hard work in and they’re getting the rewards now. When they were bottom of the league, no-one was looking at them.”

Phillips recently considered leaving Swanage following a dispute with the club’s committee over fines. But having taken the club so far, the Days Park boss was glad this was resolved.

He said: “It’s great when you look back and see how we’ve come from the bottom.

“The club is going forward and we’re all moving in the same direction. It could be the start of something really special.”

Saturday’s entire DPL programme was washed out.