LONDON (AFP) - Birmingham striker Kevin Phillips fears the club's bid to make a swift return to the Premier League could be jeopardised by a raft of departures this summer.
Phillips, 37, who is out of contract this year, told Talksport radio on Thursday he doubted whether the relegated club's youth players would be able to help the team back to the topflight.
"A part of me fears for Birmingham because there is a lot of players in that dressing room of a certain age, 28 or 29, who want to stay in the Premier League," Phillips said.
"It's only natural, so part of me fears that they could lose eight or nine players. There could be up to 10 players leaving the club.
"It's whether they can replace them with the quality that's going to get them back into the Premier League because of the young players coming through at Birmingham I don't see an awful lot there.
"There are maybe two, three or four (that could make it). The players getting produced there are not great.
"But they have certainly got a manager in place (Alex McLeish) who can get the best out of their players."
Among those heading for the exit is Swedish international Sebastian Larsson, who is expected to leave after five years at St Andrews.
Sunderland, Newcastle, Stoke and Blackburn are among those to have been linked with the Swede, who can leave on a free transfer in the summer.
Phillips, 37, who is out of contract this year, told Talksport radio on Thursday he doubted whether the relegated club's youth players would be able to help the team back to the topflight.
"A part of me fears for Birmingham because there is a lot of players in that dressing room of a certain age, 28 or 29, who want to stay in the Premier League," Phillips said.
"It's only natural, so part of me fears that they could lose eight or nine players. There could be up to 10 players leaving the club.
"It's whether they can replace them with the quality that's going to get them back into the Premier League because of the young players coming through at Birmingham I don't see an awful lot there.
"There are maybe two, three or four (that could make it). The players getting produced there are not great.
"But they have certainly got a manager in place (Alex McLeish) who can get the best out of their players."
Among those heading for the exit is Swedish international Sebastian Larsson, who is expected to leave after five years at St Andrews.
Sunderland, Newcastle, Stoke and Blackburn are among those to have been linked with the Swede, who can leave on a free transfer in the summer.
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