The former England captain, 51, left Bramall Lane yesterday after nine unsuccessful months as manager, with former Blades assistant Kevin Blackwell taking over the reins for the remainder of the season.

Robson had been under increasing pressure since replacing Neil Warnock in the summer after the club's expected promotion challenge failed to materialise.

The Blades lie 16th in the Coca-Cola Championship and have won just nine of their 32 matches under Robson this season.

McCabe held talks with Robson and club chairman Terry Robinson in Brussels on Wednesday over a new role in the club.

But he told Sky Sports News: "Were it not for a small percentage of our fans making life pretty intolerable for Bryan Robson I was hoping Bryan would stay on board with us as our head of football but it's not to be.

"I am disappointed in some respects our supporters couldn't be a bit more patient because I know better than anyone the tremendous work and effort Bryan, and Brian Kidd, were doing on our youth development system as well as first-team football.

"I understand the fans' frustration because we have under-performed at first-team level but sometimes if only they would sit and think the people they abuse are doing so many good things for the club.

"I think the fans brought an influence on Bryan. He recognised what I was trying to do was to use his skills and expertise because I know what a good job he has done.

"But after he thought it through he was of the opinion it was best if he left because he felt the element of fans who were against him would remain against him."