Role as Bradford manager gives Robson a path out of wilderness

Bryan Robson is delighted to have his "foot back in the door" following his appointment as manager of Bradford.

Robson, who has joined the club until the end of the season, takes over from Nicky Law, who was sacked more than three weeks ago after a poor sequence of results which have seen the former Premier League outfit plummet to second from bottom in the First Division table.

If Robson manages to save the club from relegation he will be rewarded with a sizeable bonus and a one-year rolling contract. The former Derby and Bolton manager Colin Todd, who was on the shortlist of three for the managerial post, has been named as Robson's assistant.

"This is a step for me where I can get my foot back in the door working with players again," the former Middlesbrough manager said. "Hopefully I can achieve what myself and Colin have come here for, which is to keep the club in the First Division.

"It's going to be a hard job but it's a job we're up for and I'm just looking forward to getting back to the coaching side of things again."

Robson has been off the managerial circuit following his departure from Middlesbrough in December 2000.

The former England captain took over at Boro when they were languishing in the First Division in 1994, and guided them into the Premier League and to three cup finals.

The club finished runners-up on all three occasions and also suffered relegation in 1997 before regaining their Premiership status at the first attempt.

The beginning of the end came in December 2000 when Terry Venables was brought in. Robson was shunted into the background and ultimately relieved of his duties.

Robson is under no illusion of the task facing him as he embarks on the new challenge at Valley Parade and he accepts it is a far cry from the big-spending days at Boro.

As well as the problems on the pitch - Bradford have not won in 12 games - the club's financial situation remains finely balanced as they have yet to recover from the dark days of administration in 2002.

The chairman, Gordon Gibb, has made Robson acutely aware there will be no funds available for the new partnership to spend, but Robson believes all the experience he and Todd have of the game should stand them in good stead to bring the good times back to West Yorkshire.

"We've got to get the basics right first," he said. "We are losing too many games at the moment and we've got to turn that around as quickly as possible.

"We know that we haven't got money to spend but we accept that and we're hoping to use the loan market and bring one or two fresh faces in to give all the players a lift.

"There's still a lot of ability in the club and when we get them all fit, on the pitch and enjoying their football then we should get good results.

"And if we can do that, then there's a good fanbase here, and we can get back all the supporters who the club have lost over the past four months."

Todd, who spent six months as Bradford's assistant manager under Frank Stapleton in 1992, echoed Robson's sentiments and believes the club can get back to winning ways sooner rather than later.

He said: "Bryan and myself have the same principles. We want the players to play football. We have the experience, we have gained the knowledge and there's no reason why we can't turn this club around."

The Lincoln City manager, Keith Alexander, is out of intensive care and beginning rehabilitation following brain surgery. The 45-year-old collapsed at home two weeks ago and has been recovering at Sheffield's Royal Hallamshire Hospital from a complex operation to repair a ruptured cerebral aneurysm - the swelling of a blood vessel.

The assistant manager, Gary Simpson, has been in control of the first team in Alexander's absence. A spokesman from the hospital said: "Following his surgery just over a week ago, Keith has responded well to treatment and is continuing to make good progress.

"Keith is now out of intensive care and is fully conscious and beginning rehabilitation work on the ward, which is the next step in his recovery. Staff are pleased with how he is doing and his progressso far."

Supporters raised more than £2,600 for the hospital's Neurosurgical Trust Fund during City's match against Bristol Rovers on Saturday.