Blades ready to unveil Everton’s Weir as new Bramall Lane manager

The Blades are expected to unveil the 43-year-old either later today or tomorrow after the Everton reserve-team boss impressed during two hours of talks with club owner Kevin McCabe on Friday.

Weir was a late entry into the race to become the next Blades manager following a lengthy recruitment process, which saw the likes of Stuart McCall and Graham Arnold reject overtures from the club.

The former Hearts and Rangers defender, who almost joined the Blades after leaving Ibrox in January 2012, had been linked with a reunion with Toffees boss David Moyes, who was keen to add him to his coaching staff at Manchester United.

But Weir, recently interviewed for the vacant manager’s job at Goodison Park along with Phil Neville and Alan Stubbs, before Roberto Martinez was handed the Blues’ reins, is intent on making his first steps into full-time senior management, with the Blades having now offered him the chance he craved.

United had been searching for a permanent manager since the decision was taken to part company with Danny Wilson on April 10, with Chris Morgan taking on the reins on a caretaker basis for the rest of the 2012-13 campaign. After United’s exit from the League One play-offs at the semi-final stage last month, the club’s board have interviewed a host of applicants with a number of second interviews taking place last week.

Robert Page, Michael Appleton, Wally Downes and Keith Curle were understood to have been spoken to last week, but now Weir, capped 69 times by Scotland, appears to have won the race for the Blades job.

Former England, Manchester United and Everton midfielder Phil Neville has called time on his playing career after 19 years at the top.

The 36-year-old has a Champions League and six Premier League titles to his name after a career that started at Manchester United and ended at Goodison Park.

“When I made a statement that I was leaving Everton, everywhere I went I seemed to be getting ‘oh you’ve been brilliant’. I didn’t like it. I didn’t want to be seen as an attention-seeker,” he said.

“In my heart, I knew that I wouldn’t be playing again – at any level. I just wanted to drift away.

“The biggest thing I will miss is July 4 when Everton are due back for pre-season training. I loved that day. I lived for it, getting back with the lads.

“My wife, she knows what I’m like. She’s saying ‘for God’s sake, don’t have any more time off!’”