Relegation fears meant Ince had to go

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Ince, in his first top-flight job, was sacked as Rovers boss after 17 matches in charge and only six months into a three-year contract.

"We are halfway through the season and we are getting detached at the bottom," said the chairman. "A poor run of results and a disappointing performance at the weekend - frankly it is time to change in order to help the club secure its [top-flight] status."

He added: "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."

Ince's failure to arrest an 11-match win-less run ultimately cost him his job after the club slumped to 19th in the Barclays Premier League, already five points from safety.

The woeful 3-0 loss at Wigan on Saturday - a sixth successive defeat - proved to be the final straw.

An emergency board meeting was held on Monday, and Ince was informed of his fate on Tuesday morning.

Back in June, Ince was preferred to more experienced candidates like former Bolton and Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce and ex-England and Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren (now at Dutch club FC Twente).

His dismissal is an admission by the Blackburn board that they got it wrong.

"It was a very difficult decision," Williams told Sky Sports News. "It is not something we like to do at all. But we have to think first and foremost about the club, and our predicament was worrying - and we had to make a decision which was in our best interests."