Ince pleads for patience

2008-08-12 08:51

England - Paul Ince is promising to establish Blackburn as a top-six club in the Premier League - if only the restless fans are more patient.

"We can't seem to settle ourselves down because people want to unsettle us all the time and it's not fair and it's not right," said Ince, who replaced Mark Hughes in June. "We are trying to build something here and it's not going to happen overnight.

"We just need time to do it and we will do it. I've been in the game 20-odd years and I can deal with most things."

This season, he'll have to deal with the absence of England winger David Bentley, who joined Tottenham, but is still relieved he was able to retain the potent striking duo of Roque Santa Cruz and Benni McCarthy.

The 40-year-old Ince is the first manager to be plucked from the fourth-tier League Two since the Premier League's inception in 1992.

Before being hired by Blackburn, Ince saved Macclesfield from dropping out of League Two and claimed the first titles of his new career last month when MK Dons won the fourth-tier League Two and the Football League trophy at Wembley.

Decent football

Ince played 53 times for England between 1993 and 2000, while his clubs included Manchester United and Liverpool. At Blackburn, it will be hard for him to dislodge his former sides' dominance.

"While the top four are running away with the money they've got, that does not mean we cannot play decent football and compete with them on a one-to-one basis," Ince said. "There are other things we can aim for like the FA Cup and League Cup. I want to win things and take Blackburn into Europe.

"Mark did a fantastic job, let's not get away from that. The club has gone forward and it is down to me to keep the momentum going."

Blackburn established itself as a top-10 side under Hughes, and Ince is looking to build on the new Manchester City manager's achievements.

"We've got to be looking at being in the top six, we've got to be looking to challenge for Europe every year," Hughes said. "We've had a taste of it before and we want it again.

"We missed out last season, and now it is down to me and my staff and the players to make sure we can achieve that year-in year-out."

But Paul Robinson remains his only signing to replace Brad Friedel, and the England goalkeeper hopes to revive his stalled international career at Ewood Park.

"I don't think there's anything that can hurt me any more - I can play without fear," said Robinson, who joined after falling out of favour at Tottenham. "Everybody has a dip in confidence and form and circumstances didn't help last year. It's helped me develop as a player and as a person.

"I've had everything from winning the (League) Cup to being left out of the team in the space of five to six weeks, and the stuff with England as well."

- SAPA