Fans forced me out, says Robson, as Blackwell takes charge of Blades

Former Leeds and Luton boss Blackwell, who had four years with United as Neil Warnock's No 2, was deep in talks on Thursday night with football chief Terry Robinson but is certain to accept the job.

Robson quit the club after only eight months when he was asked to take up an alternate role just three days before United face his old club Middlesbrough in a high-profile fifth-round FA Cup tie.

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Sharp-suited Blade: Blackwell will be back for another spell at Bramall Lane, this time in charge

His assistant Brian Kidd, recruited by former boss Neil Warnock, also opted to leave Bramall Lane in support of Robson's departure to give Blackwell a clear run at appointing his own management team.

Blackwell quit Sheffield after their 2003 play-off final defeat by Wolves, triggering a row with long-time partner Warnock as he became Peter Reid's No 2 at Leeds, who he later managed for over two years.

Kevin McCabe, Bramall Lane's plc chairman, had wanted Robson to become the director of football with Blackwell and Kidd forming the management-coaching duo to revive United's first-team fortunes.

Former England skipper Robson said: 'The fans have made it impossible for me to stay as manager.

'The way they protested with such vitriol last week has made it difficult for Kevin McCabe and Terry Robinson. They offered me a fantastic job as director of football, but I've decided it would be best to leave.

'The pressure came from the supporters. There's a lot to be said for fan power, but they don't always take into consideration the full workings of what goes on behind the scenes at a football club.

'It's a shame, as it's a great club and I was confident we would eventually get back up and stay there.'

Robson flew out to a meeting in Belgium with McCabe in the wake of Tuesday night's goalless Championship draw at his old club West Brom, where a defeat would have increased the pressure.

obinson, the football club chairman who was instrumental in installing Robson as Warnock's successor last May, was also involved in the talks aimed at resurrecting United's faltering promotion bid.

Out of his hands: Robson has gone after turning down a job as director of football

But when Robson failed to take charge of training on Thursday morning at the club's Shirecliffe complex, leaving his No 2 Kidd in command, speculation soared over the manager's future.

The fact that Robson was on the premises despite his absence from the pitch heightened tension, and the former England skipper went into afternoon meetings considering carefully his future at United.

Robson, determined to persevere despite losing the crowd's backing, expressed alarm when Sportsmail told him mid-morning that informed speculation claimed he had been relieved of first-team duties.

McCabe, as revealed earlier this week by Sportsmail, was prepared to give Robson a little more time to regain a promotion course and had no plans to end the manager's brief spell at Bramall Lane.

But a restructuring of responsibility at the top was firmly in the plc chairman's sights after United's slide culminated in a demonstration by 1,500 fans following Saturday's failure to beat 10-man Scunthorpe.

Even if McCabe had been minded to fire Robson, as the car-park mob was urging, United are not in a healthy enough financial position in the wake of relegation to contemplate a substantial pay-off.

While McCabe works hard to expand United's empire, with the stalled deal for fallen Hungarian club Ferencvaros still high on his agenda, dropping out of the Premier League has inevitably hit resources.

Moreover, Robson told friends at the start of this pivotal week for United - they will be in the FA Cup quarter-finals if they despatch visitors Boro on Sunday - that McCabe had underlined his full support.

Even so, United, so unlucky to go down in May and expected to bounce straight back with Phil Jagielka the only key summer departure, are two points closer to the relegation zone than to a play-off place.

Robson said: 'The results weren't what we wanted but it was still only one defeat in nine and we were still in the FA Cup. James Beattie was getting fit again, Rob Hulse was improving all the time and I'd brought in quality players such as Gary Speed. I've actually brought in £6m from sales of players in the process.

'But I don't blame Kevin or Terry. They are great people to work for. The club has the foundations to move forward. The role they offered me was fantastic, but it isn't what I want in my career at the moment.'

Blackwell played a key part at United until his 2003 exit, and his reputation has not suffered for sackings at Leeds - where Ken Bates installed Dennis Wise - and Luton, where the administrator threw a strop.

Indeed, 47-year-old Blackwell's stock is still on a high after his shoestring Luton side outplayed Liverpool in an FA Cup tie to such an extent that Paris St Germain demanded a seminar on exactly how he did it.

Blackwell, who steered Leeds to the play-off final two years ago, will be asked to go one better this time. Even if that proves too much this season, he will be welcomed by fans who had turned against Robson.