Doncaster Rovers give Sheffield United permission to talk with O'Driscoll

The Blades, seeking a replacement for Gary Speed, were granted permission to speak with O'Driscoll by Rovers chairman John Ryan.

But they have also been told that he will not come cheap with Rovers likely to be seeking around 500,000 in compensation.

As reported last week, Blades caretaker-manager John Carver has a minimum of four games to stake his claim for the job on a permanent basis.

He opened his tenure with a morale-boosting home win over Swansea City last weekend and is now preparing for forthcoming fixtures against Hull City, Norwich City and Burnley.

In a statement on the club's website yesterday afternoon, the Blades confirmed that Carver will stay in charge of team affairs until at least the New Year.

It also stressed that the managerial appointment would not be made 'in haste' due to its 'crucial importance' and that a shortlist of candidates was still being drawn up.

Out-of-work managers Phil Brown, Paul Hart and Chris Coleman are among the leading applicants for the job. But O'Driscoll, 53, also expressed his desire to speak with the Blades last week and Ryan feels it only fair to allow him that opportunity.

Ryan, however, has not ruled out the possibility of O'Driscoll choosing to stay with Rovers – due to both the financial and the fan pressures at Bramall Lane.

"I have given Sean permission to speak with Sheffield United but I don't think anything will happen this side of Christmas," Ryan told the Yorkshire Post. "I have spoken to Sean and I am confident that he will stay.

"We have a better chance of getting promotion and we are willing to back our manager to the hilt. I don't know whether Sheffield United's fans would give him enough time."

Ryan refused to reveal the exact amount of compensation that would be demanded from the Blades but said: "It will be substantial. And if Sheffield United don't pay, they can forget about taking our manager.

"Sean leaving us in mid-season would put us in a very difficult predicament."

Intriguingly, the Blades are due to host Rovers in a Championship fixture at Bramall Lane on January 3. If the managerial situation is still unresolved, it could prove a difficult afternoon for those concerned.