Nelsen - Ince will return

Skipper believes former boss has a great future in management

By Steve Pass   Last updated: 17th December 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Nelsen - Ince will return

Nelsen: Backed Ince

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Blackburn captain Ryan Nelsen has backed sacked boss Paul Ince to bounce back in management.

Ince was shown the door on Tuesday after a miserable run of 11 league games without a win - including losing the last six matches - saw Rovers plummet to second from bottom of the table, five points from safety.

He was sacked less than six months into the job having previously done well at first Macclesfield and then MK Dons.

Nelsen, speaking before the news that Sam Allardyce had been appointed as the new boss, believes the team now needs to start winning.

He told Sky Sports News: "The league table doesn't lie and so it's not looking good for us. But saying that a couple of wins and we're back up there again, it's very close.

"He (the new boss) will come in, he'll want to do his thing, he'll probably want to see changes and all that kind of stuff but as long as we start winning, that's the main thing."

He said that he liked Ince and believes his former boss will bounce back and show his worth elsewhere.

Great guy

"He's a great guy and he's a very good manager and I think wherever he goes next, because it's only a matter of time until he gets another job, he will be successful as a manger.

"It's just unfortunate that in the Premier League results matter and, to be fair, as players we didn't really help him out, so I think we have to go on now.

"All the players wish him all the best - as I said he's a fantastic guy and he will have a great future in management."

He agreed the players had to take responsibility for what had happened and they felt bad for Ince.

"But again it is such a results orientated business - we are in the toughest league in any sport in the world and he's got to win games," said Nelsen, who denied rumours that Ince had lost the dressing room.

"No not at - I don't know where that came from or whatever, he hadn't lost the dressing room.

"But in saying that, you can understand where the board is coming from - they want Premiership status.

"I think Paul will have a fantastic career as a manager, it probably just doesn't fit with Blackburn at the moment."