Bryan Robson Confirmed As Sheffield United Manager

Bryan Robson today insisted that Sheffield United have a "great chance of getting back up" after he was confirmed as the club's new manager.

Robson, who has been out of work since leaving West Brom in September 2006, has experience of winning promotion having guided Middlesbrough to the top flight in 1995. But he is more accustomed to failure, having led Boro, Bradford and West Brom - his only three clubs in management - to the drop while in charge.

But United plc chairman Kevin McCabe insisted that Robson was the right man to lead the Blades back into the Premiership. "Bryan is an experienced manager but also as we all know was a fantastic player, and we believe he is the manager who will blend the squad and improve Sheffield United and lead us back to where we rightfully belong, in the Premiership, in a short space of time," he said.

"He will have the support of the board to fulfil that ambition. We aim to be in the top 10 in the Premiership at least within the next three to five years."

Robson, who has appointed Brian Kidd as his assistant, was equally positive. "I'm delighted to come back with such an ambitious squad," he said. "It's a great challenge, we have some good players and with just a bit of fine-tuning they have a great chance of getting back up, but it will take a lot of hard work.

"I would like to keep all the best players and give them the challenge of getting back up, but also build the club so if we go up we have a better chance of surviving," he added. "It's a case of everybody lifting themselves. You can't go about feeling sorry for yourselves, you've got to get on with your next season."

While Robson would not be drawn on the row over Carlos Tevez's participation in West Ham's successful survival bid, McCabe reiterated the club's position. He confirmed that the Blades were expecting a response from the Premier League today over the issue and said: "We are pursuing the Premier League as a current member still, as the AGM has not happened yet. We expect the Premier League board to listen and acknowledge that Sheffield United have been wronged."

Robson replaces Neil Warnock, who resigned last week after seven and half years in charge at Bramall Lane.