Bryan Robson has finally ended his unwanted three-and-a-half-year exile from the Premiership by taking charge of West Brom.

Robson believes his rocky final season at Middlesbrough has been held against him.

His otherwise successful seven-year spell on Teesside ended with Terry Venables being brought in to work alongside him before he parted company with the club in the summer of 2001.

Since then Robson's only involvement in football management has been at cash-strapped Bradford City but now the former England captain is back in the top flight with the club he graced as a player in the late 1970s.

The 47-year-old Robson has signed a 12-month rolling contract after being appointed as Gary Megson's successor.

Robson said: ''I must admit I was disappointed over the last two years not to be offered a job like this.

''The only blip on my CV at Middlesbrough was the last year, which was a hard year and maybe the decision to bring Terry Venables in didn't do me any favours.

''I think that last year has been held against me. That's the only way I can explain why I haven't had an opportunity to step back into a club with the type of potential that this football club has.''

Robson insisted: ''I think people sometimes just dismiss the record that I had at Middlesbrough. People forget that Middlesbrough were 14th in the First Division, were moving into a new stadium and didn't have a training ground.

''In the seven years I was there, I got them two promotions and to three cup finals. Relegation is a blot on your CV but that year we got to two cup finals and the squad wasn't strong enough to cope with that.

''But the past is the past and all the experiences of that must improve me as a manager, and the only way I can prove that is by coming into West Brom and being successful.''

Robson paid tribute to the efforts of Megson and chairman Jeremy Peace, who admitted he had consulted Boro supremo Steve Gibson before making the appointment.

Robson said: ''Gary Megson and the chairman have done a good job even though people have written that they were at loggerheads.

''There is potential within the squad so it is a great challenge for me to come back into Premiership football after three and a half years away from it and my sole aim at this moment is to keep this club in the Premiership next year.

''It is a bit of a strange feeling but it is one that I am delighted about. I have got great memories of this football club from my playing days.

''I am just looking forward to the challenge now. It is a great opportunity for myself. I had seven great years at Middlesbrough. Good and bad experiences, but you learn from all those.

''What I want to try and achieve at this football club is to give them a run of consistent years in the Premiership and that is my main priority.''

His time at Middlesbrough wasn't lost on the current boss at the Riverside, Steve McClaren, who wished him all the best - but only after his first game on Sunday against the Teessiders.

McClaren said: "He did a fantastic job here and everything he did here was built by his first seven years. He left some great people here and it's good to get him back in the game.

"He can do a good job. He's done it before and he can do it again. I just hope his first game is not a defeat for us."

Peace hinted that Robson would collect a substantial financial bonus if he helps Albion to hold on to their Premiership status.

He said: ''We heavily motivate people towards bonuses here. We think it is a good thing. I wouldn't want to discuss contractual matters but we do believe in motivating people for success.''

Peace added: ''It is a major appointment for the club and we wanted to make sure we got the right man. Bryan was on the shortlist and has come through and it was a unanimous decision of the board to appoint him.

''Hopefully he can continue where he left off as a player all those years ago and bring a lot to the club when he is here.

''There will always be a risk in terms of any managerial appointment. You always face the situation where it may go wrong.

''But with Bryan we have minimised the risk, asked all the right questions, seen what his motivation and desires are, and we believe he is the most ideal candidate to take us forward.

''I have spoken to guys at Middlesbrough. I had a long discussion with their chairman Steve Gibson and Bryan comes highly recommended - not only by people he has worked for but also people in the game.''