Former England coach Bobby Robson will be appointed the new manager of Newcastle United today.

The 66-year-old comes out of retirement to replace Dutchman Ruud Gullit who resigned from the premier league club on Saturday after a disastrous start to the season.

Robson, who last managed a British club 17 years ago, confirmed his appointment on BBC radio and is expected to be in charge of the team for the visit to Chelsea on September 11th.

"I hope to travel up to Newcastle for further talks and I expect them to make a statement sometime later today," he said.

Newcastle confirmed they had been talking to Robson in London and planned a further meeting.

They will hold a press conference at St James' Park this morning. Newcastle have just one point from six games - their worst start to a season - and are second from bottom in the league.

Gullit, who took over from Kenny Dalglish in August 1998, resigned because of poor results and media harassment.

A poll in a local newspaper found 87 per cent support for Robson, who hails from the north-east, taking the job. Speaking on Sunday, he had made clear he wanted it.

"I'm in good health, the job wouldn't worry me," he said. "I've got experience, I wouldn't be afraid of the job. My motivation is very high and I've got plenty of ambition.

"I wouldn't turn the job down if it came my way," added Robson. "I've got black and white blood in my veins."

Robson was offered the post in January 1997 when Kevin Keegan left the job after five years but turned it down, saying he wanted to honour his contract with Barcelona, with whom he won the Spanish Cup and the Cup Winners' Cup.

As a player he won 20 England caps before building his managerial reputation by turning unfashionable Ipswich Town into one of the top clubs in England, winning the FA Cup in 1978 and the UEFA Cup in 1981.

He became England manager in 1982 and took them to the World Cup quarter-finals in 1986 and the semi-finals four years later, when they lost to Germany on penalties.

He was given a mauling by the English tabloid media despite England's comparative success and gave up the job in 1990 to take over PSV Eindhoven. He went on to manage Sporting Lisbon, Porto, Barcelona and PSV again before retiring last season.