Speaking to the Bournemouth Evening Echo, Phillips is quoted as saying: "The collapse of the transfer market three years ago has knocked a huge hole in the finances of all clubs at our level and we used to rely on about £500,000 of transfer income every year. So with that now gone, it's more important than ever that we get a windfall from somewhere else each season and the best opportunities come from the cup competitions, particularly the Carling Cup because you can get a Premiership side in the second round. Although we didn't make much money out of it because it was a smallish crowd at Blackburn, it was a great occasion and we got a home game against Cardiff in the next round and enjoyed a lucrative cup run".