Williams coy on Ince future

PAUL INCE’S future at Blackburn continues to be the subject of speculation after chairman John Williams stopped short of publicly backing his manager yesterday.

Rovers’ defeat by leaders Liverpool on Saturday was their 10th Barclays Premier League match without a victory, leaving them above only bottom side West Brom in the table.

And the Blackburn chairman declined to comment on Ince’s future yesterday, stating: “The board will make the decisions it feels is in the best interests of the club.”

Rovers’ last win came at Newcastle on September 27 and pressure is growing on Ince, who is in his maiden season as a top-flight manager having joined from League One side MK Dons to replace Mark Hughes after he took over at Manchester City.

Rovers face a crucial Lancashire derby against Wigan at the JJB Stadium on Saturday and Ince is expected to be in charge for that game.

Indeed, the club have already formalised media arrangements for this week and all the signs are that the former Manchester United midfielder will be given more time to turn things around.

Williams praised the fans for sticking with Ince and the players in Saturday’s latest reversal.

Williams said: “It could have gone one of two ways on Saturday, but the fans were fantastic and really got behind the team.

“I am not sure who started it. Whether the players’ performance lifted the crowd or vice versa, but they were certainly great.

“I don’t think anyone could grumble about the crowd’s contribution on Saturday, Paul Ince remarked on that to me himself.’’

Former Rovers boss Graeme Souness is among those to have been linked with the job, if the club’s board opt to sack Ince.