Bryan Robson will make banishing the pain of relegation his top priority as he gets to grips with the challenge of immediately returning Sheffield United to the top flight.

The former England captain has been handed a three-year contract by plc boss Kevin McCabe, who has made clear his ambition of establishing the Blades as a top 10 Premiership force by the end of that period.

Robson has tasted relegation in each of his three previous managerial reigns with Middlesbrough, Bradford and West Bromwich Albion, and acknowledged it is a difficult experience to overcome.

He said: "The first thing you have got to get right is the players' mental approach because being relegated isn't nice and a lot of players keep feeling sorry for themselves into the new season.

"You have got to get their mental approach right right from the kick-off of the new season. It is my job to pick those players up and get them performing as they normally would without that disappointment."

Robson, who established a sports consultancy business following his departure from The Hawthorns, said he had turned down a number of other approaches but did not need long to accept the Blades' offer.

Boosted by appreciation of the 50-year-old's success in taking both Boro and the Baggies into the top flight, McCabe immediately made the former Manchester United midfielder his number one target.

And his cause was helped by Robson's former Old Trafford acquaintance Brian Kidd, who will be promoted from his existing first-team coach role at Bramall Lane to become Robson's assistant.

Robson added: "I had spoken to a few clubs but I didn't feel the challenge was right. But the ambitions of Sheffield United matched my ambitions and that is why I am glad we were able to get things sorted out.

"The first thing you look for as a manager is a good coach and I have got one of the best in Brian, who has proved that with Manchester United and England. Brian has got a lot of respect from players."

Robson will speak to the existing squad members in the coming days and will be assisted by his board in his bid to retain key players like Phil Jagielka next season.

McCabe is "optimistic" the appointment of Robson and the offer of significant financial funds to strengthen the squad in the summer would persuade Jagielka to stay.

He said: "I have not spoken to Phil myself but he has been with us since he was a little boy and I really believe that Bryan joining us will be an inspiration for players like Phil to stay.

"Our first ambition is to get promotion back to the Premiership and it is hard to find anyone who has a better CV than Bryan.

"He is the guy who has the most knowledge on how to get us out of this division."