Blackwell scoops monthly award
Sheffield United manager Kevin Blackwell has won the Championship manager of the month award for March.
The Blades were undefeated during the month and consolidated their play-off position by beating promotion rivals Birmingham and Cardiff.
United took 14 points out of a possible 18 over the six games in March and moved up to fourth in the table.
Blackwell has an impressive record of winning 30 of the 62 games where he has been in charge.
He beat Wolves boss Mick McCarthy, Norwich's Bryan Gunn and Owen Coyle of Burnley to the award.
Everton & Spurs in Naughton fight
Tottenham are attempting to hijack Everton's £5m bid for Sheffield United defender Kyle Naughton.
Everton hoped Naughton, 21, would undergo a medical and sign over the weekend but it is understood Spurs are now serious rivals for his signature.
Aston Villa are also monitoring the situation, with boss Martin O'Neill an admirer of the England Under-21 star.
Everton remain hopeful, Spurs are set to hold talks with Blades' defender Kyle Walker.
The highly rated Naughton was outstanding in Sheffield United's run to the Championship play-off final last season, where the Blades lost to Burnley.
The full-back has been at Bramall Lane since the age of eight, coming through the same youth system as Everton defender Phil Jagielka.
Footballer jailed for death crash
A footballer has been jailed for 32 months after causing a fatal crash because he was trying to change songs on his MP3 player.
Sheffield United striker Jordan Robertson, 21, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving at Leicester Crown Court.
Robertson crashed into the car driven by father-of-five Omar Mohamed on the M1 in Leicestershire on Christmas Day.
Mr Mohamed, 38, from Leicester, died in hospital on Boxing Day.
Both drivers had been travelling on the southbound carriageway of the M1 by junction 19 near Lutterworth when Robertson's Mercedes CLC 180 sports car hit Mr Mohamed's Ford Galaxy.
Driving ban
Robertson, of Hazelbarrow Road, Sheffield, told police he had been using the MP3 player - a personal digital music player - at the time of the incident.
Mr Mohamed was airlifted to Walsgrave Hospital in Coventry but died later with his wife at his bedside.
Sheffield-born Robertson, who was on loan to Southampton at the time of the crash, was also banned from driving for five years.
He joined Sheffield United as a trainee but has spent much of his career on loan to other clubs including Torquay United, Northampton Town, Oldham Athletic and Bury.
He also played for Sheffield United's Hungarian sister club, Ferencvaros.
A spokesman for Sheffield United said the club's thoughts were with the victim's family, but it was "too early to say anything else".
United announce Gary Speed as new manager
Sheffield United have confirmed Gary Speed has been appointed their new manager on a three-year contract.
The 40-year-old ex-Wales international replaces Kevin Blackwell, who left the club after Saturday's 3-0 loss to QPR.
"I am delighted my first managerial role is with the Blades - I've enjoyed my two and a half years here," Speed told the club website.
"I thank the board for putting faith in me to take the club forward following on from Kevin Blackwell's hard work."
Chief executive Trevor Birch added: "He has exciting plans for the club and we will do everything in our power to back him."
Sam Ellis will remain in the assistant manager's position and Speed is expected to appoint a new first-team coach in the next few days.
His first match in charge will be the Blades' Championship fixture away at Middlesbrough.
Speed, who has completed his Uefa Pro Licence, retired from playing football last season to take up his role as first-team coach at Bramall Lane.
Sheffield United blocked Championship rivals Swansea City's approach for the former Premier League midfielder about their then vacant managerial role in July.
The South Yorkshire side currently lie 23rd in the Championship table following the defeat by QPR and an opening-day draw at Cardiff.
On Wednesday they were dumped out of the Carling Cup by League One side Hartlepool.
Speed enjoyed a distinguished stint in English football's top flight during an 18-year career with Leeds United, Everton, Newcastle United and Bolton Wanderers.
Jewell makes it three wins on the bounce for Ipswich
Ipswich continue to pull away from a relegation scrap with a 3-0 win at Portman Road over Sheffield United who remain in the drop zone.
The Blades miserable afternoon was compounded with the dismissals of Rob Kozluk and Lee Williamson.
Jewell said: "It was an important three points. The first half was never a classic, because of the strong wind, but we said at half-time that if we needed to win horrible we needed to win horrible.
"It looked like being one of those days when we had to dig the result out but in the second half the game opened up and we looked a different team.
"To win three games on the bounce is very difficult so big credit to the players. It's important to keep our feet on the floor but the lads have been terrific and winning matches breeds confidence."
Jewell also singled out substitute Connor Wickham for his solo effort, adding: "It was a great goal and if anyone else had come on the pitch he'd have gone past them too.
"It was like Thierry Henry against Tottenham in a north London derby all those years ago, where he picked the ball up and went past everyone.
"It should do bundles for his confidence. He's got that in his locker and deserves a lot of plaudits.
"He's got huge potential and all the tools you need to be a top-class footballer, but I have to be really careful not to put too much pressure on his very young shoulders.
"We all know he's a centre-forward and that's where he'll end up playing. But he's doing such a good job for us out on the left and it's an education for him because it's another string to his bow.
Sheffield United boss Micky Adams was unable to take any consolation from the result.
He said: "It was very disappointing and hard for me to think of any positives.
"We had a problem in the final third. We either didn't deliver the right ball or the players' confidence was so fragile that they were setting others up rather than pulling the trigger themselves.
"Ipswich's first two goals were killers as both came from set-pieces. They were both avoidable.
"The two sendings-off were ridiculous, from our point of view. Lee Williamson didn't need to get involved and I can't condone what he did. It was the same with Rob (Kozluk). He was frustrated because of the tackle on him, which wasn't a particularly nice one.
"The game was already over by then, though.
"We all need to take collective responsibility (for the club's league position).
"I've only been here a month but at this moment in time I'm not doing a particularly good job. But every manager and every player who has played here this season needs to take responsibility.
"We have to look at the personnel and whether we need reinforcements, which I think we do."
