Speed quick to realise importance of leading role at Sheffield United

The world of football is littered with the tales of former internationals who failed to replicate their on-the-field success after moving into management.

Chris Waddle, Jan Molby, Ruud Gullit, Tony Adams and John Barnes are among the big names who have bombed in English football in the last decade while Speed's former team-mate Alan Shearer has settled for the comfort of the Match of the Day studio after an ill-fated spell in charge at Newcastle United.

Speed, who spent nearly 20 years in the top flight and won 85 caps for Wales, could easily have picked far less pressurised environments than Sheffield United for his managerial baptism but is ready for the challenge.

The shock departure of his predecessor Kevin Blackwell just three games into the new season has highlighted the Blades' demand for success.

Although they have spent just one season in the top flight in the last 16 years, the club's supporters and directors feel the Premier League is where they belong.

Speed, 40, has been learning his trade as a coach for three years and now has a three-year deal as manager.

He has retained the services of veteran assistant Sam Ellis but also wants John Carver, who worked under Sir Bobby Robson at Newcastle United and subsequently moved to Leeds United, to quit Plymouth Argyle and join his backroom staff.

Officially unveiled as manager yesterday, Speed reflected on the step up and accepted that the stakes are high.

"Your first job is very important – it will make or break you as a manager," he said. "If you don't make a fist of it you're going to struggle from there on in. I know this is going to be hard work but I'm also confident in my own ability.

"Success as a player does not automatically mean you are going to be successful as a manager – and a lot better players than me have not made it – but I intend to learn along the way and work hard.

"I could have gone into the media but I don't think I could live with myself if I didn't give this a shot. Once you take that step over the line into media, it's very difficult to get back in.

"Not many people get an opportunity to manage a club like Sheffield United in their first job and I'd have been silly to pass up the opportunity. I know the club, I know the players, and I know the fans – hopefully that will give me the best chance to be successful.

"Every manager wants the crowd to be patient – but I'm not naive enough to think they will be," he admitted.

"If they get on your back, they get on your back. That's part of being a manager. If they are not happy, they will certainly let me know. I don't have a problem with that.

"Players are not stupid. Regardless of what you have done as a player, you will only get respect for a certain amount of time. They soon suss you out if they don't think you are any good or they don't believe in you. But I have been working with the players for quite a while now and I think I have got their respect."

Speed aims to bring in 'two or three' new players before the August 31 transfer deadline and has four days to prepare for his first game in charge at Middlesbrough on Sunday afternoon.

The Blades have yet to win this season and have lost the last two abysmally against Neil Warnock's Queens Park Rangers and League One side Hartlepool United in the first round of the Carling Cup.

"I think we have been lacking a bit of confidence and self-belief and a bit of discipline," he said. "On Saturday, when we went a goal down, we wanted to do well so badly that we lost all discipline.

"Sometimes our determination and desperation gets the better of us.

"Between now and Sunday, I won't fill their heads with too much information. I want to get promoted and fortunately there are only two games gone. We have got another 44 to go.

"I like passing football – and that's what I hope to play – but it's got to be winning football. In the short term, Sunday's result is very important, but longer term I want to build a culture within the club and be recognised as a successful brand in this country and around the world."

Blades chief executive Trevor Birch, meanwhile, defended the club's decision to part company with Blackwell just three games into a new season.

"The reasons for his leaving are not simple or clear-cut," said Birch. "Suffice to say we reviewed the management situation at the end of last season and decided against change – despite the disappointing season for a club with high ambitions for Premier League status.

"But recent events, in particular Saturday's result and the manner of that defeat, caused us to revisit the decision and, perhaps earlier than expected, we felt we had to make a change now to give us every opportunity of challenging for promotion this year and utilising the remaining two weeks of the transfer window. Some say it's too early, some say it is too late. That's football."