Blackburn contract involves Pro Licence obligation but there's no Premier League fear factor for proud Ince

Ince was named as Mark Hughes' successor on Sunday despite not possessing the required coaching qualifications to take over at a top flight club and made his first appearance in front of the media this afternoon.

Put your hands together: New Blackburn Rovers manager Paul Ince (right) and chairman John Williams during the press conference at Ewood Park

And Williams, who secured the kind of dispensation for the former England captain that has previously been awarded to Gareth Southgate, Avram Grant and Glenn Roeder after negotiations with league chiefs, admitted Ince was formally bound to completing his training in the agreed period.  

'On behalf of the Premier League I would say that they rightly made us work very hard to get Paul and we had to give certain undertakings because quite clearly Paul didn't meet the requirements of the rule. 

'It was a bit like that film, Groundhog Day. You'd wake up thinking Paul was a candidate and you go to bed thinking he's not. 

'He couldn't finally be a candidate until dispensation was given. The case was made that Paul had served his apprenticeship in the lower leagues and had been busy with that since he stopped playing and we gave the undertaking that Paul will (get the licence).  

'Paul has signed a contract with Blackburn where that undertaking is a contractual term. It's not something we'll just try and get done. He's under contract to Blackburn that he will complete that time frame and we in turn have given that to the Premier League.'

Top man: Ince holds a Rovers shirt with the number one on the back

Relaxed: the Blackburn job holds no fear for Ince he said

Asked if he had considered whether he might go on to become the first black England manager, Ince replied: 'Not really. I am happy to be a role model. I am proud of where I come from, proud of my roots. I am proud to be at Blackburn and I don't know where it will take me. Only time will tell.  

'The feedback I have had from fans has been very encouraging and I am looking forward to meeting the players. I played with Brad Friedel at Liverpool. He's exceptional keeper and someone I can speak to who can tell me things about the club.  

'I am not scared of many things and there is no fear factor coming to Blackburn. It is exciting coming here.'

Ince added: 'It means a lot (to make history) but it's also about that fact that I'm in the Premier League.

'Whether I'm black, white or whatever, I'm just proud to be in the Premier League.'  

The 40-year-old, who earned promotion from Coca-Cola League Two and won the Johnstone's Paint Trophy last term, also insisted that his first priority would be to talk to in-demand pair David Bentley and Roque Santa Cruz.  

Both men have been linked with big-money moves from Ewood Park, with Bentley going public about his desire to leave.  

But Ince said: 'I'm looking forward to getting my teeth into it and I want to keep my best players, David Bentley and Santa Cruz among them.  

'We don't start (pre-season) until July 7 so I'll speak to those two players and to the rest of them and take it from there.'