Ince hits out at lack of backing

Ince was sacked by Blackburn just before Christmas, less than five months after signing a three-year contract at the club who had fallen into the Barclays Premier League relegation zone under him.

"Whatever club you go to you want to bring in your own players," he explained on Sky Sports News. "You need to build your own team, but unfortunately we didn't have that time."

Ince, who makes it clear he remains an admirer of Rovers chairman John Williams, cites the loss of key players to injury, and the departure of goalkeeper Brad Friedel to Aston Villa, as factors in what soon proved to be a difficult campaign for Rovers.

But he was prepared for the long haul, and remains disappointed his employers were unable to keep the faith in his abilities and potential.

"It was always going to be hard at Blackburn because of investment," Ince concedes. "I have nothing but admiration for the chairman, for giving me the chance to manage at that level.

"You need to get young English managers in.

"But the disappointing thing for me was that the board didn't come out at the time and squash it [the criticism] and say 'you are staying here until after the Christmas period'. If that had happened it would have stopped the press writing things and unsettling my players.

"It is important that you stand by your manager through thick and thin.

"I felt at the time we could have gone for another five or six games and seen where we were then."