'WE CAN MAKE IT TO THE TOP'

The defender will miss the opening weeks of the season with a neck injury but will then be bidding to make up for lost time.

Last season's Player of the Year believes that League One will see its hottest promotion race for years but says: "Going up has to be our aim with the squad that we've got.

"I've watched the lads in training and the pre-season games and they look very strong."

Lee fancied his old club Sheffield Wednesday for promotion in the 2004-05 League One season and had his hopes that year fulfilled.

"The division this season will be at its strongest for years; there are a lot of good teams.

"I think we'll be right up there fighting and have a good chance.

"We were fancied last year and didn't live up to the expectations.

"We've added even more good players, and hopefully we won't have so many injuries."

Lee hurt his neck after doing only one week of pre-season training.

He has had to rest, and is lined up to have a scan check in two weeks.

"Fingers crossed, I'll be ok and able to kick on again.

"The injury was a bit of a freak thing. My neck was just feeling sore after training.

"I hope that the scan will give me the all-clear to train and get some games under my belt. I haven't played any yet."

The centre half hopes that after a month of training plus some reserves football he will be prepared for a first-team challenge.

A Rovers side won 1-0 at Brigg Town last night with a 27th minute goal from Craig Nelthorpe.

Premier

League chief executive Richard Scudamore has admitted that the Carlos Tevez saga appeared "like a road crash."

Hours before Manchester United were due to receive Premier League clearance for the Argentina striker to move from West Ham, Scudamore described last season which saw Sheffield United relegated from the top flight and West Ham survive as "an unbelievable story, an unbelievable series of events.

"West Ham were all but relegated at Christmas and then Tevez scored a few goals right at the end of the season and they were able to escape.

"It's unscripted drama and one of the things that makes football so interesting but in other ways it looks like a road crash in how some of the events appear."

Scudamore has insisted he never contemplated resigning over the criticism of his handling of the affair. West Ham were fined 5.5m by an independent commission for contravening rules.