Blackburn Rovers 3-0 Stoke City

Blackburn Rovers have appointed Sam Allardyce as their new manager on a three-year contract.

The Lancashire club sacked Paul Ince on Tuesday and made it clear they wanted a new boss at the helm for Saturday's home game against Stoke.

"I'm very pleased indeed, I'll say more at the news conference on Thursday," said 54-year-old Allardyce.

Paul Ince has been sacked by Blackburn Rovers after six months as manager of the Lancashire club.
Ince has been in charge for just 17 Barclays Premier League matches but paid the price for a run of six successive league defeats with Rovers taking just one point from a possible 33.

The Ewood Park side are currently second from bottom and in danger of relegation forcing the board to reluctantly make a change.

A club statement said:

"It is with great sadness the Board announce that Paul Ince is to leave the club. After a Board meeting yesterday it was decided to relieve Paul of his duties.

The Board, having selected Paul back in June, were desperate for him to succeed and wanted to give him as much time as possible in the unforgiving environment of Premier League management where time is such a precious commodity."

Chairman John Williams said "Three wins in 17 games has seen a squad, which finished seventh last season, fall to 19th position. We are currently in real danger of becoming detached from the pack.

"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.

Blackburn Rovers 1-3 Liverpool