Robson confidentNew Sheffield United manager Bryan Robson believes the club have a "great chance" to win promotion back to the Premier League at the first opportunity.
Sheffield United were relegated on the final day of the season after losing at home to Wigan, consigning them to the Championship after just one campaign in the top flight.
However, Robson, who has replaced Neil Warnock after seven-and-a-half years at Bramall Lane and will have Sheffield coach Brian Kidd as his new assistant, sees plenty of positives.
"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," said Robson, who returns to management having left West Brom in September.
"At this football club we already have some good players, the budget is pretty good and it gives us a great chance."
Robben 'close' to deal
Chelsea winger Arjen Robben is close to agreeing a new deal at Stamford Bridge. The club have been in talks for weeks over a new contract extension and the player's agent and father, Hans Robben, expects the Dutch winger to shortly sign a new five-year deal. The 23-year-old has been linked with a move to Bayern Munich but insists he wants to remain at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea, meanwhile, have signed midfielder Steve Sidwell from Reading on a free transfer. Sidwell, who had been linked with a number of top English clubs because his contract with Reading runs out on June 30th, will join the London club on July 1st.
Tevez tribunal set up
The Premier League have agreed to set up an arbitration tribunal to rule on Sheffield United's complaints over the Carlos Tevez affair. The league have conceded that Sheffield United do have the right to call for an arbitration panel - but have told the relegated club they are wasting their time and money. Sheffield United, though, are to insist on pursuing their claim that the independent commission should have deducted points from West Ham and that the league should have cancelled Tevez's registration.
Worthington denial
Nigel Worthington insists he has not applied for the vacant Northern Ireland manager's job, preferring to hold out for news from Leicester chairman Milan Mandaric. The former Norwich boss guided Leicester to safety last season after being brought in by Mandaric on a temporary basis, charged with keeping Leicester in the Championship. He achieved safety and registered his interest in the job long-term. However, he has yet to hear back from the club despite Mandaric stating Worthington featured on a shortlist of candidates which also includes Neil Warnock and current favourite Martin Allen.
Ipswich boss Jim Magilton has also ruled himself out of the running for the vacant Northern Ireland manager's job.
Ballack in squad
Captain Michael Ballack is in the squad for Germany's Euro 2008 Group D qualifying matches against San Marino and Slovakia at the start of next month, the German soccer federation (DFB) said yesterday. Ballack, who missed the end of the season with Chelsea and had an ankle operation, was working on his fitness and could be available to face both San Marino on June 2nd in Nuremberg and Slovakia in Hamburg on June 6th, the DFB said.
Mutu ruling
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has backed Chelsea's bid to receive compensation from former player Adrian Mutu. Chelsea have been seeking compensation from the Romanian international forward since terminating his contract in October 2004 as a result of the player's positive test for cocaine. Fifa's Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) said last October that it did not have jurisdiction to handle the question of compensation - an argument which has been overturned by yesterday's ruling.
In brief . . .
Portsmouth are poised to pull off a double swoop for Manchester City defender Sylvain Distinand Udinese midfielder Sulley Muntariwithin the next 24 hours . . .Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayorhas signed a new "long-term" deal at the Emirates Stadium.
