Chance to put club on level footing welcomed by Weir

Ever since the Blades were relegated from the Premier League they have been on a downward spiral and failure to get out of League One has seen budgets gradually cut.

Weir took over in the summer and as a rookie manager has attempted to produce a promotion-winning side – despite losing several key players – while working behind the scenes to help secure the arrival of wealthy Prince Abdullah bin Mosaad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

Weir has been in discussions for several weeks with owner Kevin McCabe and the Prince’s adviser and is relieved the investment has finally been confirmed.

“I have had lots of conversations with Mr McCabe and the Prince’s adviser,” said Weir. “We have had many meetings and discussions, been involved in the process all along.

“It’s been interesting and great news for the club, and great to just be finalised.”

While Prince Abdullah has bought a 50 per cent stake in the club for just £1, he has pledged to invest millions in United’s first-team over the next few years.

But Weir believes it is not all about headline-grabbing signings as the investment also brings stability to the Blades.

“It’s not just about bringing players in – that’s part of it obviously – it’s about stabilising the football club, trying to put it on a level footing and try to be successful moving forward,” he said.

“It is a chance to be successful in a sustainable manner.

“We have got good foundations in place here and things we want to do right, things we want to build on, and hopefully this gives us a chance to implement them.”

Goalkeeper George Long is away on international duty with England Under-21s – he is due back Tuesday – so today Mark Howard will carry on in goal after impressing in midweek with a clean sheet against Scunthorpe United in the JP Trophy.

“Mark Howard gets an opportunity,” said Weir. “He took his chance on Tuesday night, he played and played really well.

“It was touch and go at the start of the season between Mark and George as regards to where they were, because they were both doing really well.

“Mark hadn’t done anything wrong.

“On Tuesday he showed what he is capable of.”

Weir is confident his Blades team will soon start scoring after finding the net just four times in their opening five League One matches.

Three of those have come from defensive pair Harry Maguire and Neill Collins, with Kevin McDonald grabbing a goal before leaving for Wolves

“There’s no doubt about that (that they have goals within the team),” he said. “And I think we have added to that with Jose (Baxter), Harry (Bunn) and Florent (Cuvelier). They are all people who can add goals.

“We have got to have goals coming from different avenues, we haven’t done that as well as we would have liked so far.

“I think the goals are there and if we keep doing the right things the goals will come.”