Blackburn appoint Ince as manager

[Geordie Ahmed]

from bbc.co.uk/sport

Alan Shearer has told BBC Sport he has declined the offer to be placed on the shortlist of candidates for the managerial vacancy at Blackburn Rovers. The former Rovers striker has been linked with the job made vacant by Mark Hughes' departure to Manchester City. More soon.

[Ghoshtbuster]

He mentioned this during the break. Said he is not ready to into managment just yet.

[Mohsin]

Said this during the half-time break:

2045: "I got a call from the Blackburn chief executive John Williams and he asked me if I wanted to be on the shortlist to be the new manager, but I said no because of other commitments I've got, namely my BBC work and other things. It's not the right time for me." BBC Sport pundit Alan Shearer

[Geordie Ahmed]

Rovers fans better be worried - this might just mean McClown gets the job

Im not surprised Shearer turned it down, easy money working for the bbc

[Geordie Ahmed]

Originally Posted by Ghoshtbuster He mentioned this during the break. Said he is not ready to into managment just yet.

He is being a bit picky it seems - the rovers job after Newcastle would have been perfect for him. The fans love him and im sure they would have given him time - not sure any other club would give him that . . . . . well apart from us and he is gonna have to wait for Keegan to leave

[Geordie Ahmed]

from bbc.co.uk/sport

Paul Ince is set to be named as the new manager of Blackburn Rovers, according to BBC Radio 5 Live. The MK Dons boss is Rovers' number one target following Mark Hughes' departure, despite Sam Allardyce being interviewed for the role. Former England manager Steve McClaren and ex-Getafe boss Michael Laudrup have also been linked with Ewood Park. Rovers chairman John Williams insists the club have not yet made an offer to anyone for the post. "We are now down to a small short-list," Williams told BBC Radio Lancashire. "I am delighted with how the process is going and we hope to make a decision by the weekend. "We have steadily gone about our business in the proper manner but we have not yet made an offer to anyone at this stage." BBC Radio 5 Live reporter Juliette Ferrington said: "The former England captain has always been a target of Blackburn and the MK Dons are expecting the situation to be resolved in the next few days. "That would tie in with the bookies who, in the last 24 hours, have made Ince firm favourite to succeed Hughes. "Sam Allardyce has also been interviewed for the job but I understand he is likely to miss out in favour of Ince." Six candidates have been interviewed to succeed Hughes, who left Rovers for Manchester City on 5 June, with Ince, McClaren, ex-Denmark international Laudrup, and former Bolton and Newcastle manager Allardyce regarded as the leading candidates. McClaren has been out of work since he was sacked by England in November after they failed to qualify for Euro 2008 and he told Radio 5 Live on 7 June that he would be interested in the Blackburn job. Laudrup is reported in the Danish media to have been interviewed for the role. Ince has had an impressive season with MK Dons after moving from Macclesfield in June last year. The 40-year-old former West Ham, Manchester United, Inter Milan and Liverpool midfielder led MK Dons to the League Two title as well as the Football League Trophy in his first season with the club. His achievements attracted the interest of Leicester City, who made an official approach to the MK Dons for Ince's services earlier this month. Blackburn would need special dispensation to appoint Ince as he does not yet have the Uefa Pro Licence coaching qualification. Uefa and Premier League rules require anyone wishing to manage in the top flight to hold the Uefa Pro Licence, which requires 240 hours of study and usually takes a year to gain. The Premier League could block his appointment, although Gareth Southgate got the green light to manage Middlesbrough two years ago without being licensed. And League Managers' Association chief executive Richard Bevan insists he will not lobby against Ince's appointment.

I would love it if Ince got the job cos it would be a slap in the face of Fat Sam

[Geordie Ahmed]

from SkySports.co.uk

Former Bolton and Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce has told Sky Sports News that he has withdrawn from the race to succeed Mark Hughes at Blackburn Rovers. Allardyce had been in the running to land the Ewood Park job following Hughes' departure for Manchester City along with Paul Ince, Michael Laudrup and Steve McClaren. McClaren has now been appointed manager of Eredivisie side FC Twente, while Laudrup has met with Rovers chairman John Williams. MK Dons boss Ince remains in pole position despite not holding the necessary qualifications to coach in the Premier League. Ince's case has now been strengthened further with the news that Allardyce has pulled out of the running, leaving it as an apparent two-horse race for the post. Allardyce, who had a successful eight-spell at the Reebok Stadium with Rovers' bitter rivals, has been out of work since January after being sacked by Newcastle following just under eight months in charge.

@ the fat g1tt

Pulled out? yeah right - i bet he knew that Blackburn were not stupid enough to employ him

[Geordie Ahmed]

from bbc.co.uk/sport

Blackburn Rovers have appointed MK Dons boss Paul Ince as their new manager. The 40-year-old Ince, who has been given a three-year contract, was Rovers' number one target following Mark Hughes's exit to Manchester City. In his first season with the Dons, Ince led them to the League Two title as well as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy. His appointment marks an historic moment for the Premier League as he is the first English black manager to take charge of a top-flight club. Frenchman Jean Tigana with Fulham and Ruud Gullit with Chelsea and Newcastle are the only other two black managers to have managed in the Premier League. Ince will be officially presented as Blackburn's manager on Tuesday. Last week the Premier League gave Rovers dispensation over Ince's failure to hold a Uefa Pro Licence. The former West Ham, Manchester United, Inter Milan, Liverpool and England midfielder will be allowed two years to earn his licence. In order to be a football manager in the top divisions of countries like Spain, Italy, Germany and France, coaches must have the Uefa Pro Licence qualification. The licence requires 240 hours of study and usually takes a year to gain. But in the past in England, special dispensations have been given to the likes of Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate and former Chelsea manager Avram Grant. The League Managers' Association chief executive Richard Bevan had insisted he would not lobby against Ince's appointment. Former England manager Steve McClaren, ex-Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce and former Getafe coach Michael Laudrup had all been linked with the Rovers post. Ince moved to the Dons in June 2007 after keeping Macclesfield in the Football League. His managerial achievements attracted the interest of Leicester City, who made an official approach to Milton Keynes for Ince's services earlier this month. Ince is the latest former Manchester United who played under Sir Alex Ferguson to manage in the Premier League. With Hughes at Manchester City, Steve Bruce is Wigan's manager, while Roy Keane is Sunderland's boss.

[Oxy]

Good choice. I'm sure BRFC fans will say 'we should have gone for Huddink etc'