Ince sacked by Blackburn

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The Blackburn board met on Monday to discuss the future of the former Macclesfield and MK Dons boss, who guided Rovers to just three wins in 17 league games since his appointment in June. He leaves with the Lancashire club second bottom of the league.

"It is with great sadness the board announce that Paul Ince is to leave the club," read a statement on Blackburn's club website. "After a board meeting it was decided to relieve Paul of his duties."

The statement continued: "The board, having selected Paul back in June, were desperate for him to succeed and wanted to give him as much time as possible in the unforgiving environment of Premier League management, where time is such a precious commodity."

Chairman John Williams added: "Three wins in 17 games has seen a squad, which finished seventh last season, fall to 19th position. We are currently in real danger of becoming detached from the pack.

"The survival of the club in the Premier League is paramount and our focus now is on finding a replacement who will be able to maintain our top division status. Paul will bounce back, he is a fighter and we wish him well."

Ince was appointed in June on a three-year contract and, despite a promising start to the campaign, saw performances and results begin to deteriorate. The club have not won since September 27 at Newcastle and reports of dressing-room unrest began to emerge.

Saturday's woeful 3-0 defeat at Wigan was one of the worst performances of that spell and ultimately cost Ince his job.

The search is now on for his replacement with former Rovers boss Graeme Souness the favourite to return, with veteran midfielder Tugay possibly in a player-coach role.

Ex-Bolton and Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce, who was considered in the summer before Ince got the job, appeared to rule himself out of the running at the weekend. Former Charlton and West Ham boss Alan Curbishley has also been linked with the club.