Text CIT and your news tips, photos and video to 80360 Click here for other ways to contact us »
10:10am Tuesday 24th June 2008
BLACKBURN Rovers' new 'Guv'nor' Paul Ince has vowed to lead the club into an exciting new era after being handed the responsibility of building on Mark Hughes' legacy.
Ince was due to be formally unveiled as Rovers' new boss today at a high noon press conference, having accepted the challenge of replacing Hughes in the Ewood Park hot-seat.
And the former England and Manchester United ace, who beat a host of more experienced managers to the job, says he intends to repay the Rovers board for putting their faith in him by proving he has what it takes to be a major success in the Premier League.
In an exclusive interview with the Lancashire Telegraph, Ince said: "I'm delighted to have been given this chance.
"When you look at what Sam Allardyce has done in the game, and Steve McClaren, who I know is a fantastic coach after working with him at Middlesbrough, to come through ahead of people like them, and Michael Laudrup, and Henk Ten Cate, just shows what belief Blackburn have in me, and I hope I can repay that.
"This is a great challenge for me and I'm very excited by it.
"Mark Hughes did an absolutely fantastic job here and it's now down to me to continue that, and hopefully squeeze a bit more out of the squad if I can."
Having served an impressive apprenticeship in the lower leagues, first with Macclesfield Town, and then MK Dons, who he led to a league and cup double in League Two last season, Ince was hungry for an opportunity to test himself in the Premier League, so he jumped at the chance to speak to Rovers once Hughes left for Manchester City almost three weeks ago.
However, he then feared his chances of securing a dream move to Ewood were going to be scuppered by red tape, with the Premier League threatening to block his appointment because he lacked the necessary coaching badges.
Thankfully, though, Rovers fought the 40-year-old's corner and, much to Ince's relief, he was finally granted a special dispensation by the league last Friday, which cleared the way for him to be appointed as Hughes' successor.
"The most important thing for me was I felt wanted," said Ince.
"The situation with the qualifications was difficult, but John Williams has been absolutely fantastic.
"He was a real pillar of strength for me through all of that because there were times when I thought I wasn't going to get the job.
"But he pursued the situation and made it clear he wanted me to be the manager of his football club."
Ince is desperate to get his teeth into his new job and, once today's formalities are out of the way, he insists his first priority will be to persuade David Bentley and Roque Santa Cruz that their futures lie at Ewood.
"Any manager starting his first year in the Premier League wants to keep his best players, so I'll be speaking to Bentley and Santa Cruz, and indeed all of my players, and then we'll go from there," said Rovers' new boss.
"It's hard to form an opinion until you've spoken to the players directly, but of course I want to do well this season, and I want to start off well at Blackburn, not just for myself but for the people who have stuck by me, and for the fans.
"And getting rid of your best players is not the best way to go about that."
Another issue Ince is keen to address is the make-up of his backroom staff, with Ray Mathias, his trusted number two at MK Dons, set to join him at Rovers, along with several others from the League Two champions.
"I've had people with me for the last two years and we've been successful in what we've done," said Ince.
"They are also trustworthy and loyal, and you need people like that around you.
"Obviously, this is a big step up for them, just as it's a big step up for me, but we are excited by this challenge, and the fact we are at such a fantastic football club.
"In many ways, this reminds me of when I was at West Ham, because that was a great family club too."
With an experienced team alongside him to help guide him along the way, Ince is convinced he can emulate what Hughes achieved during his four years in the Ewood hot-seat, and get Rovers pushing for the top-six again.
He added: "That's not just the challenge for me; that's the challenge for clubs like Aston Villa and Tottenham too.
"Being realistic, it's very difficult to challenge the top four because of the finances they've got.
"But this club has always been in the top half of the table, it has always challenged for Europe, and that has to be my aim - to get this club back into a UEFA spot."
Dave, Blackburn says...
10:47am Tue 24 Jun 08
Carlos, Blackburn says...
11:03am Tue 24 Jun 08
Hammers, Essex says...
11:10am Tue 24 Jun 08
TC, Blackburn says...
11:17am Tue 24 Jun 08
Dave, Burnley says...
11:20am Tue 24 Jun 08
Diego Fonse wrote:I have no doubt you're one of the steadfast supporters who deems it necessary to make us look bad by leaving ten minutes before the end of the match. You negative narrow minded idiot. I take it you think that Paul Ince is a one man coaching team who made the whole MK Dons thing work all by himself. I don't remember Mark Hughes being on the field prior to kick off working the players and Carlos Queroz is a figment of Alex Fergusons imagination. The only amateur oparation around here is your train of thought. Give the man and his team a chance before you start undermining him.
I just hope he doesnt bring it too many trainers or people from MK DONS. We dont need lower class coaches or crappy players from MK DONS. I really hope he doesnt sign any MK DONS players. Having an MK Dons assistant manager in MAttias, im a bit scared. I hope that its not going to be an amateur operation.
Realist, bburn says...
11:24am Tue 24 Jun 08
A fan, ewood says...
11:37am Tue 24 Jun 08
Boris the Spider, London says...
11:38am Tue 24 Jun 08
BlueMG, Blackburn says...
11:38am Tue 24 Jun 08
Dave wrote:Dave,
Diego Fonse wrote: I just hope he doesnt bring it too many trainers or people from MK DONS. We dont need lower class coaches or crappy players from MK DONS. I really hope he doesnt sign any MK DONS players. Having an MK Dons assistant manager in MAttias, im a bit scared. I hope that its not going to be an amateur operation.I have no doubt you're one of the steadfast supporters who deems it necessary to make us look bad by leaving ten minutes before the end of the match. You negative narrow minded idiot. I take it you think that Paul Ince is a one man coaching team who made the whole MK Dons thing work all by himself. I don't remember Mark Hughes being on the field prior to kick off working the players and Carlos Queroz is a figment of Alex Fergusons imagination. The only amateur oparation around here is your train of thought. Give the man and his team a chance before you start undermining him.
Wilky, BLACKPOOL says...
11:40am Tue 24 Jun 08
bluenwhite, says...
11:49am Tue 24 Jun 08
Hammers wrote:you sad sad individual. grow up and deal with it. Pr ick
Cant wait for judas to come to upton park. He always gets a nice welcome.
BlueMG, Blackburn says...
12:00pm Tue 24 Jun 08
Martink, Blackburn says...
12:02pm Tue 24 Jun 08
Finger Bang, Blackburn says...
12:07pm Tue 24 Jun 08
Dingle Den, Burnley Pride of Lancs says...
12:19pm Tue 24 Jun 08
TC wrote:Any suggetsions? (sic)....
I have kept quiet for the last couple of weeks due to the circus surrounding the new gaffer. I am 100% confident that Ince is the real deal. Yeah ill be the first to say i wanted Billic or Laudrup but taking a step back from the situation we have a man in charge that mirrors our club ethos \'arte et labore\'. You can draw a pretty extensive list of top managers that now ply their trade in the Prem who started out in humble surroundings...Fergu son (St Mirren) O\'Neil (Wycombe Norwich Leicester) Keegan (newcastle) Moyes (Preston) Curbishley (Charlton).. The point being is that everyone above had a taste of the lower leagues before being given or gaining a place in the premiereship. Ince has played for the best, and was arguably one of the finest midfielders of his generation. Yeah i hated him back in the mid 90\'s but he was class for both club and country. I think next season will be a bit of a rollercoacter ride as he gets to grips with the top flight, but i beleive given time he will be an excellent appointment. I cant say that under Hughes we didnt have our spells were we didnt quite perform, and for me as there is no Europe to contend with this year, this will be a lessing in disguise. If he manages to keep Bentley and Rocky that will be an impressive start. The main problem i have is that i cant get a decent tune going....apart from \'Paul Ince\'s Blue and white army.... Any suggetsions?....i cant get any further with \'Incey Wincey Manager Climbing up the prem\'...yeah i know that ones sh1t!!! Ah well...Rovers Till I Die!!
BlueMG, Blackburn says...
12:28pm Tue 24 Jun 08
hammer, Essex says...
12:40pm Tue 24 Jun 08
bluenwhite wrote:How is it sad i love it when judas comes back to upton park he gets the most abuse i have everf heard or seen its great entertainment. Bring on the judas
Hammers wrote: Cant wait for judas to come to upton park. He always gets a nice welcome.you sad sad individual. grow up and deal with it. Pr ick
mike, says...
12:41pm Tue 24 Jun 08
nick, Brownhill says...
12:46pm Tue 24 Jun 08
Dingle Den wrote:What position did you finish again dinglite, where have you been for the passed 10 years?
TC wrote: I have kept quiet for the last couple of weeks due to the circus surrounding the new gaffer. I am 100% confident that Ince is the real deal. Yeah ill be the first to say i wanted Billic or Laudrup but taking a step back from the situation we have a man in charge that mirrors our club ethos \'arte et labore\'. You can draw a pretty extensive list of top managers that now ply their trade in the Prem who started out in humble surroundings...Fergu son (St Mirren) O\'Neil (Wycombe Norwich Leicester) Keegan (newcastle) Moyes (Preston) Curbishley (Charlton).. The point being is that everyone above had a taste of the lower leagues before being given or gaining a place in the premiereship. Ince has played for the best, and was arguably one of the finest midfielders of his generation. Yeah i hated him back in the mid 90\'s but he was class for both club and country. I think next season will be a bit of a rollercoacter ride as he gets to grips with the top flight, but i beleive given time he will be an excellent appointment. I cant say that under Hughes we didnt have our spells were we didnt quite perform, and for me as there is no Europe to contend with this year, this will be a lessing in disguise. If he manages to keep Bentley and Rocky that will be an impressive start. The main problem i have is that i cant get a decent tune going....apart from \'Paul Ince\'s Blue and white army.... Any suggetsions?....i cant get any further with \'Incey Wincey Manager Climbing up the prem\'...yeah i know that ones sh1t!!! Ah well...Rovers Till I Die!!Any suggetsions? (sic).... Yes TC, you could try the chorus from that old Status Quo classic of the 70's, you know the one that goes 'Down, down deeper and down, get down deeper and down', because that's where Ince is taking you lot. lol
Jay, London says...
12:47pm Tue 24 Jun 08
hammer wrote:All it does is show how disappointed you were to lose him. Its not like anyone boos Nigel Quashie now is it...
bluenwhite wrote:How is it sad i love it when judas comes back to upton park he gets the most abuse i have everf heard or seen its great entertainment. Bring on the judasHammers wrote: Cant wait for judas to come to upton park. He always gets a nice welcome.you sad sad individual. grow up and deal with it. Pr ick
ambitionless blackburn, says...
1:01pm Tue 24 Jun 08
hoodle, says...
1:23pm Tue 24 Jun 08
MBond, BR Paddington says...
1:31pm Tue 24 Jun 08
BlueMG, Blackburn says...
1:34pm Tue 24 Jun 08
MBond wrote:"Wearing a duffel coat, Wellington boots and a floppy hat....."
BREAKING NEWS: Things are picking up in Dingletonia. Burnley sign giant Peruvian goalkeeper - picture at link. http://www.abc.net.a u/news/stories/2008/ 06/04/2264379.htm
BlueMG, Blackburn says...
1:37pm Tue 24 Jun 08
MBond wrote:Another bit of irony for the Dingles. They are the Paddingtons of the football league.
BREAKING NEWS: Things are picking up in Dingletonia. Burnley sign giant Peruvian goalkeeper - picture at link. http://www.abc.net.a u/news/stories/2008/ 06/04/2264379.htm
k-dogg, the kennels says...
2:05pm Tue 24 Jun 08
sky sports news, says...
4:13pm Tue 24 Jun 08
Enter your postcode, town or place name
Search jobs in and around Blackburn
Search Now »
Find the right person for you
Search Now »
Search houses, flats, and all properties
Search Now »
Search new & used cars in and around Blackburn
Search Now »
Diego Fonse, Farnham says...
10:39am Tue 24 Jun 08