Guv’nor on fast-track for UEFA Pro Licence

PAUL INCE will be fast-tracked to achieve his UEFA Pro Licence under a programme put together by the FA and the players’ union.

The new Blackburn manager is contractually obliged to have earned all his coaching qualifications within two and a half years, and the 40-year-old is to be helped meet the deadline.

The FA and Professional Footballers’ Association last year agreed a fast-track scheme to help a number of young British coaches and Ince will be one of those on the programme.

An FA spokesman said: “There’s an accelerated programme we are offering him in conjunction with the PFA. Normally it would take longer than two years to achieve all the qualifications but we have put together a programme with the PFA that will allow him to do so within the allotted timescale.”

Ince will still have to take all the elements of the coaching qualifications but the schedule will be specifically tailored to his managerial duties to allow him to fit in the course work.

Blackburn chairman John Williams said Ince would be starting on the courses immediately. Williams said: “Paul will be on a course very quickly – they are virtually non-stop. It is a very tight timeline, a very disciplined timeline and the fact it is now embodied into his contract of employment is testimony to how serious he takes it.

“He will be doing his ‘B’ licence, ‘A’ licence then Pro licence. These things are sequential and Paul needs to be in a position to start the Pro licence in the summer of 2010.”

PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor has no doubt at all Ince will get the badges in the required timescale. Taylor, a former Blackburn player, said: “We do not see any problems given what Paul has already shown at Macclesfield and MK Dons.

“We have our coaching department that can get players through according to UEFA criteria. That’s what we intend to do with Paul, working alongside the FA.

“He has willingly accepted he needs these qualifications and a programme will be put together to make sure he can achieve his goals.”

Ince is the first black English manager in the Premier League, and Taylor added: “Blackburn have shown strength by giving him an opportunity at the very highest level. Hopefully other black players will be encouraged by his success as a manager.”

Meanwhile, Ince is ready to tell former boss turned “enemy” Alex Ferguson that he has no chance of signing Roque Santa Cruz.

The Paraguayan was a major hit after signing from Bayern Munich last summer as he plundered 23 goals in all competitions – a performance which has reportedly drawn interest from the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal.

But Ince, the former midfield ‘Guv’nor’ at Old Trafford, insists he has no interest in allowing the striker to join Ferguson at the Premier League and European champions.

“If he comes on asking about Santa Cruz then I’ll just tell him he’s not having him,” he said.

“I had a text off Sir Alex to say ‘congratulations, well done’, as I’ve had off numerous people. But I’m under no illusions, I’m the enemy now.”