Sheffield United supporter Sean Bean has joined the club's fight to be reinstated to the Barclays Premiership.

The Blades were relegated from the top flight after a final-day defeat at home to Wigan.

West Ham - who escaped with a £5.5million fine for their conduct in the transfer and registration of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano - survived.

The South Yorkshire side believe West Ham should have been docked points over the Tevez affair and expect an independent arbitration panel to find in their favour at a hearing on June 18-19.

And Hollywood actor Sean Bean, a lifelong Blades fan, has agreed to lead the club's 'Campaign for Fairness'.

Next Wednesday, Bean will lead a delegation of Blades fans to MPs, when the supporters will let parliament them know how unhappy they are with the way the club has been treated.

He explained tonight: "United has always been close to my heart - I'm a massive Blades fan and I'm proud to be associated with anything that might help us overturn this injustice.

"Everyone knows the facts, but we have had to bear the brunt of the unfair decision to fine West Ham rather than dock the club points.

"They broke league rules and points, not a fine, should have been the punishment.

"Instead, West Ham have ended up being rewarded while Sheffield United, who played by the rules, face relegation.

"I hope that the arbitration panel will see the injustice and the message that 'rule-breaking pays' will send out to kids playing football.

"The panel now have the chance to right that wrong and I'll be doing everything I can to encourage the arbitrators to do just that."

Blades chairman Kevin McCabe added: "Of course we're thrilled to have Sean on board.

"He's a great guy and a genuine voice of the many thousands of disappointed Blades fans.

"We've already had a lot of support from MPs, and 35 have signed an Early Day Motion in support of our position.

"We hope that with this campaign, everyone in football will realise that we should be able to take our rightful place in the Premier League next season."