Kevin McCabe has exclusively told Blades fans - through sufc.co.uk - to keep the faith.

The United chairman has confirmed that an approach has been made for James Beattie but no deal has been done.

"If a deal is done it will be for the right football reasons," said Mr McCabe. "The way the transfer system is - with regard to windows - we have got to be organised. We are in the window and here is a potential chance to take the club forward.

"Why all the doom and gloom? Look at what we have here at Sheffield United; we've got to be together, we are one of the best supported clubs in the Championship, we've got a fantastic stadium and squad of players. My message is to tell everyone to calm down.

"When we started 2008 at Wolves their fans were calling for Mick McCarthy's head - when we finished the year against them, they are top of the league. It is about steadily building and adapting a team and keeping faith with how we are doing things."

Of the Beattie situation, McCabe added: "We've had an approach, we are talking to the club but no deal has been done. If the deal goes through we have a replacement all lined up but we can't say who at the moment."