Allardyce becomes new Blackburn manager

Former Bolton and Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce was appointed the manager of Blackburn Rovers on a three-year contract, the English Premier League strugglers announced Wednesday, a day after they had sacked Paul Ince.

“Blackburn Rovers are delighted to announce the appointment of Sam Allardyce as manager with immediate effect,” a statement on the club's official website said. “Sam has signed a three-year contract.”

The statement added: “A press conference will be held at Ewood Park at 4pm (1600GMT) tomorrow (Thursday).”

Blackburn are currently second-bottom in the lucrative Premier League and facing relegation, having won just three out 17 games – all under Ince who took over in June – so far this season.

Allardyce, 54, was a candidate for the post of Blackburn manager when Ince was appointed after Mark Hughes's departure to join Premier League rivals Manchester City.

He had eight years in charge of Bolton, establishing Rovers's fellow Lancashire side in the Premier League and making them tough to beat.

Allardyce, linked with the recent vacancy at Sunderland following the exit of Roy Keane, took charge of Newcastle before the start of last season but was sacked in January by then new owner Mike Ashley.

No sooner had Blackburn chairman John Williams announced Ince's departure on Tuesday, he made clear his intention to bring in a new manager to Ewood Park as quickly as possible.

“You can't underestimate how much of a boost a physical presence could have on Saturday for what is an absolutely mammoth game (at home to Stoke).”

Former Blackburn manager Graeme Souness was the initial favourite to succeed Ince but the Scot ruled himself out of the running earlier on Wednesday.

Ince, 41, who followed former Manchester United team-mate as Rovers manager, was sacked six months into a three-year contract.

Williams said Tuesday the north-west club had been left with little option as they sought to preserve their Premier League status.

“Three wins in 17 games has seen a squad, which finished seventh last season, fall to 19th position,” Williams said.

“We are currently in real danger of becoming detatched from the pack,” added the chairman, whose team are five points adrift of safety.

“The survival of the club in the Premier League is paramount and our focus is on finding a replacement who will be able to maintain our top division status.”

The first black British manager in English football's top flight, there was plenty of goodwill towards Ince, who had risen through the ranks after managing in the country's lower divisions, with Macclesfield and MK Dons – whom he led to the League Two (fourth-tier) title before moving to Ewood Park.

But the final straw for the Blackburn board was last weekend's 3-0 loss away to local rivals Wigan, managed by another former United player in Steve Bruce.