CONFIRMATION that Kevin Blackwell will be officially unveiled as Bryan Robson's permanent successor tomorrow has given Sheffield United's first team squad a timely lift before Sunday's crucial visit to Southampton.
Despite organising a press conference at Bramall Lane just hours before the team set-off for St Mary's, officials at the club have refused to reveal the identity of the man who will be charged with the responsibility of guiding them back to the Premier League.
That dream could be realised as early as this month if United beat relegation threatened Southampton and results elsewhere go in their favour.
But as we exclusively revealed on our website thestar.co.uk yesterday afternoon Blackwell, who diplomatically refused to be drawn on the matter during his weekly media briefing at Shirecliffe, was told on Monday that he would be offered a new contract before the final game of the season.
Blackwell only signed a short-term deal when he replaced Robson at the helm in February and just 24 hours ago was still joking that the only jobs he knew were definitely available in the region were "at Sheffield's bus department."
But it is that relaxed approach, combined with a superb sequence of results which have lifted United from the brink of the relegation zone to within touching distance of the play-offs, that persuaded plc chairman Kevin McCabe to ratify Blackwell's appointment during their summit meeting in New York.
Although the exact details of Blackwell's new deal have yet to be made public, the news will be welcomed by United's players and supporters alike as they battle to overcome a catalogue of injuries and suspension which have denied them the services of James Beattie, Ugo Ehiogu, Lee Martin and Chris Morgan for a potentially history-making fixture.
"I definitely think he should be given the job," midfielder Michael Tonge insisted. "He has moulded us into a team, given us a game plan and a system."
With John Halls set to deputise for Morgan and Ehiogu at centre-half, Beattie's absence with a calf problem has provided Blackwell with his biggest selection dilemma.
Rob Hulse is almost certain to be handed the task of replacing the 22 goal marksman and Blackwell has challenged him to stake his claim for a starting role after faling behind the former England international in the United pecking order.
"If you have players who are happy not to be playing then, quite frankly, you've got the wrong set of players," Blackwell said.
"We've had injuries before and we've coped with them. So we can go out there and do it again."
Do you think Kevin Blackwell is the right man to take Sheffield United forward? Can he get them back into the top flight? Post your comments below. READ MORESheffield Eagles mark 10th anniversary of historic Wembley win: CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO REPORTOWLS TALK - Paul Thompson discusses Wednesday's survival chances ahead of their last match of the season: CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO REPORTBLADES TALK - James Shield discusses the challenge faced by one Blades player who will be lining up against them on Sunday: CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO REPORTLeon's a lion for Owls fans - SEZ LES Football headlines.More Blades.More Owls.More Spireites.More Rovers.More Reds.More Millers.More Ice Hockey.More rugby.More boxing.Sports columnists.All sport categories. The full article contains 565 words and appears in Sheffield Star newspaper.
