Ince warns Fergie off Roque

New Rovers boss won't do former manager any favours

By James Dall   Last updated: 25th June 2008

Paul Ince Blackburn manager

Ince: Keen to keep stars

If he comes on asking about [Roque] Santa Cruz then I'll just tell him he's not having him.

Paul Ince on an approach from Sir Alex Ferguson
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New Blackburn Rovers manager Paul Ince has no intention of selling striker Roque Santa Cruz to former boss Sir Alex Ferguson.

Ince was unveiled as Mark Hughes' successor at Ewood Park on Tuesday, and said at a live press conference on Sky Sports News that he plans to keep hold of his reportedly in-demand stars.

England midfielder David Bentley and clinical forward Santa Cruz have both been linked with big-money moves away from Rovers this summer.

Santa Cruz, who signed from Bayern Munich last July, has reportedly caught the eye of Manchester United and Arsenal following an impressive haul of 23 goals in his debut season.

But the former MK Dons boss has insisted that Red Devils manager Ferguson, who Ince worked under at Old Trafford, has no chance of signing the Paraguay international.

The enemy

"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."

Meanwhile, chairman John Williams has explained that Ince will begin his route to acquiring his coaching badges 'very quickly'.

Ince, who began his managerial career with League Two sides Macclesfield and MK Dons, has been given dispensation by the Premier League to gain the mandatory Uefa Pro Licence in two years.

Qualifications

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 realises the significance and importance of having the qualifications. 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.

"In order to do that it will be nose to the grindstone for him from day one."