Warnock commits after Ince appointment

Blackburn defender Stephen Warnock has insisted he is committed to Rovers after Paul Ince was confirmed as the club’s new manager.

Ince will host a media conference at lunchtime today after replacing Mark Hughes at Ewood Park.

Since Hughes moved on to Manchester City there have been suggestions that Warnock might be leaving as well.

Former England midfielder Ince signed a three-year deal after guiding MK Dons to promotion from Coca-Cola League Two and preventing Macclesfield going out of the league a year earlier.

And now Warnock, who won his first England cap in the recent friendly against Trinidad and Tobago, has pledged his future to the club under Ince.

“I am more than happy at Blackburn – I love the club. It is fantastic,” he told BBC Radio Lancashire.

“Hopefully we will continue to have a lot of success under the new manager. I was desperate to find out who it was going to be as you want to know who you are working with.

“It was disappointing to lose Mark Hughes but this is an exciting time for the club. Paul Ince did a fantastic job at these two clubs and has moved up the leagues very quickly.

“I think people will be itching to play for him not because of who he is but because of his achievements as a manager.

“He gets the most out of his players and the chairman has probably chosen the best man for the job.”

Meanwhile Piara Power, director of anti-racism organisation Kick It Out, wants other chairmen to follow John Williams’ lead at Blackburn after he appointed the top flight’s first black manager.

Power also believes Ince’s promotion to the top flight will encourage prospective black coaches.

“Hopefully this appointment will send out a strong signal to other chairmen, who have previously been conservative in their thinking,” Power said.

“They have not really embraced the prospect of a black manager for one reason or another.

“Perhaps that has been through fear or a lack of knowledge because of their own prejudices.

“The appointment sends a strong message as well to black players, who haven’t felt the game can offer than a living as a coach at the highest level.

“Paul is getting his just reward because he is seen to be a very good manager because of what he has down in the lower leagues. That is refreshing.”