[Archived] Paul Ince

[Sandiway Blue]

Only just seen this clip,the man is a disgrace.

Surely that is bordering on slander?

I hope the club reacts angrily to this clowns comments.If Rovers fans were so `racist` then why was the BBE singing "paul incey`s blue `n` white army" throughout the game?

This is my email that i have just sent to Mr Holt:

I have just seen your remarks on this morning`s `Sunday Supplement` regarding the Blackburn Rovers alledged disliking of Paul Ince due to his `colour`.Frankly i find your remarks disgraceful and out of order.There is no evidence to corroberate these absurd accusations and I think you should hastily retract your comments and print an apology in your newspaper column forthwith.I will be writing a letter of complaint immediately to Sky Broadcasting Corporation and also the media regulator Ofcom with regards to this matter.

As a member of numerous Rovers messageboards and a supporter of Rovers for 34 years i haven`t seen any evidence to suggest there are racial motives with regards to criticism of Paul Ince`s tenure as Blackburn Rovers manager.

I URGE EVERY OTHER MEMBER OF THIS BOARD TO TAKE THE SAME COURSE OF ACTION!

[Paul Mellelieu]

I only ever visit this MB, and I can't recall any material save a few bits and pieces of dumb-brained nonsense from a couple of the usual suspects, that fit Holt's description. I like Holt and think he's a decent writer, but he needs to come up with some evidence, or shut up. When pressed he seemed to backtrack a little.

[Amo]

I only ever visit this MB, and I can't recall any material save a few bits and pieces of dumb-brained nonsense from a couple of the usual suspects, that fit Holt's description. I like Holt and think he's a decent writer, but he needs to come up with some evidence, or shut up. When pressed he seemed to backtrack a little.

Well that's the thing, he didn't have anything to substantiate what he said. It was basically 'uhhh yeaaah probably from phone-ins and message boards...' Well shouldn't you KNOW, Mr. Holt, before you make such allegations??

It's as if he's blind to the fact we're a top-seven side languishing in the relegation zone.

[RevidgeBlue]

I know - and other clubs know - about the calls that were made on Thursday and Friday.

So basically you've written a lot of slanderous crap about Ince in the Sunday People under the headline "Ince WILL be sacked within the next 48 hours" whereas in reality you're admitting on here you have no idea what the situation is.

You merely think it's what the Board SHOULD do.

Yet if anyone accuses you of being anti-Ince the toys come out of the pram!!

It's not rocket science to predict that Ince's position is in jeapordy because of results.

If Ince isn't gone by Tuesday I hope you're big enough to come on here and say you were wrong. As I wll if he goes within that period.

[Paul Mellelieu]

I do remember Nicko saying "stay well clear" when Ince's name was first mentioned during the summer. So there's no love lost.

[Bobby G]

Why are people shooting the messenger?

Lets not forget various newspapers came out with the same story on Friday about calls being made to Sunderland. Even Kamy came out with it before nicko appeared at that moment...

Now I agree, in the story it says Ince WILL be sacked but in reality nicko is saying its up to the board...

Lets not mis-direct the anger here.

[den]

So basically you've written a lot of slanderous crap about Ince in the Sunday People under the headline "Ince WILL be sacked within the next 48 hours" whereas in reality you're admitting on here you have no idea what the situation is.

You merely think it's what the Board SHOULD do.

Yet if anyone accuses you of being anti-Ince the toys come out of the pram!!

It's not rocket science to predict that Ince's position is in jeapordy because of results.

If Ince isn't gone by Tuesday I hope you're big enough to come on here and say you were wrong. As I wll if he goes within that period.

I think you should look at Nicko's articles for what they are Simon - articles dressed up to make a story. That doesn't mean they're not true though.

Think of them as "being based on a true story"

[thenodrog]

............ I like Holt and think he's a decent writer, but he needs to come up with some evidence, or shut up. When pressed he seemed to backtrack a little.

When Matt Dickinson (from the Times ) challenged and corrected Holt (from the Mirror ) just check out his expression. Sour faced or what? Holt appears churlish and agenda'd toward our club. Why is this?

Given his position he really does represent a danger who quickly needs attending to.

Why don't you write to the Mirror Group / Sky / etc too Macca?

[PAFELL]

The People story is a result of several months of gleaning what has been going on.

You may recall I turned down the info given to me by someone at the club and let the Daily Mail run the early 'disharmony' stories because I felt it was [a] too early and was coming from chatter by unhappy people.

However there has been trouble brewing again lately. This is known to your club which is why in recent weeks there have been questions asked from the top about what is going on - and going wrong.

I was happy to stay out of it and not write anything because it was up to the club to act.

When calls were made about potential new managers at the end of last week the cat was out of the bag. I know of a second club - apart from Sunderland - who had the exact same call. But I stayed quiet on that. The minute I knew other papers were onto it I had to run the Mirror story on Saturday.

However the point is that other managers are being checked out, with the Man U game probably the final straw in terms of performance, but other issues also mounting up like transfer targets and the standard of coaching.

Also, because several people from this board have been good enough and concerned enough to keep me in touch with other confidential side-issues, I feel it was right to give you this background here as well as in print.

I'm not going into any more details.

If the club wants to carry through what it started on Thursday and Friday, then they should do so.

Fast.

You heard because it was in the Daily Mail.

I know where the stories came from, but turned it down.

Keep up.

Nicko, I think there is a story that you should run in the mirror and that is this colour issue.

What this Oliver Holt has done is very unjust to Blackburn Rovers, to the supporters of Rovers and to Paul Ince as well.

I do not believe that any true Rovers supporter is concerned about the colour of the managers skin. The only concern I believe is, "can the manager do the job required?" With regards to Paul Ince the answer is NO.

I also think that who ever runs this message board should create a petition / statement with regards to the colour issue - which has been created by Holt - and everybody on this message board should add our comments and names to it. Holt in this latest interrview mentioned 'message boards' on a few occasions - which is basically a dig at everybody who posts or reads posts on this site.

I believe the attitude towards Paul Ince is that he is not YET ready for the premiership - he tried and yes respect should be given to him for trying - but, sorry, it is not about the colour of his skin, but that he is not ready to manage a premiership club. Personally I hope he leaves Rovers and learns by the mistakes he has made and one day is able to come back into management and be good at doing it. But that is down to him to knuckle down, get his coaching badges and continue to learn what he can about management - even it is at another club as an understudy etc.

[John]

I do remember Nicko saying "stay well clear" when Ince's name was first mentioned during the summer. So there's no love lost.

Not surprised. The first messages I received when Ince took over were: he will be sacked by Xmas and enjoy Championship football. Even one of Inces' friends told me he was not cut out for the job, even though he loves Incey to bits (his words not mine).

The more this drags on the more embarassing it gets. As I have said previously, for a number of reasons, there is no longevity in Ince being our manager.

Nick Townsend in the Times today was basically saying everytime Ince speaks to the media, he talks complete rubbish. He also questioned his judgement on some of the things he talks about ahead of games. Townsend was referring to Inces' comments on people being out to 'get him' and Keane.

No Paul, no one is out to get you. BRFC fans just want a manager who knows what they are doing, and also want some direction/new ideas, something you cannot provide at this stage of your managerial career.

[thenodrog]

Nicko, I think there is a story that you should run in the mirror and that is this colour issue.

What this Oliver Holt has done is very unjust to Blackburn Rovers, to the supporters of Rovers and to Paul Ince as well.

They are colleagues working for the same rag ffs Pafell! There's more chance of Glenn Miller landing in France tomorrow than of Nicko savaging Holt in print!

[Stuart]

Amazing following another defeat by Blackburn - albeit somewhat flattering to the opposition - that all the talk is about Rovers fans and them having to defend accusations of racism. Is Holt friends of Darren Lewis by any chance?

Not only is that a vain attempt to deflect attention from the fact that Ince is out of his depth but it is also insulting to Rovers fans. You only have to look at things like that 'shoot' clip to see that Ince is out of this depth.

For the record, Mr Holt, Ince isn't being treated differently to any other manager at any other club who has proved himself not up to the job. And if you think that Ince's skin colour should make us feel differently about the position he has taken us to then I think you need to have a long look in the mirror before you accuse anyone of racism.

We are loyal to our club and not, excepting a small few, to our players or managers who come and go. If I thought Ince or Santa Cruz wouldn't walk away given a better offer then maybe they deserve more loyalty but being realistic I will choose my club over the current incumbents.

And, for the avoidance of doubt, skin colour has NOTHING to do with football and the only colours we Rovers fans care about are the colours our team play in. Home or away.

[whittle blue]

Extract from THE SPOILER

Blackburn

Five reasons why Paul Ince’s Blackburn days are numbered

December 7th, 2008 · No Comments

Ince’s managerial career about to contract a deadly virus: statistics

The Spoiler is very much an admirer of Paul Ince and believes that a great deal of silverware lies in his future. His fondness for pale grey suits might not do him any favours and most schoolchildren can knot a tie more elegantly than he can, but more importantly, this is a manager any club ought to consider themselves fortunate to have in their employ, given his drive and potential.

However, the Guardian yesterday unearthed a statistic that will be jangling like a fire alarm in the Blackburn boardroom and will strike terror into the heart of the beleaguered Ince:

“Of the eight clubs that went nine or more league games without a win last season, five replaced their manager and avoided relegation: Newcastle, Fulham, Tottenham, Wigan and Bolton. Of the three who showed faith in their managers, two went down. Gareth Southgate, under the wsie counsel of Steve Gibson at Middlesbrough was the exception as Paul Jewell andSteve Coppell were relegated with Derby County and Reading respectively.”

Best of luck, Paul Ince, but before you go, could you please tell us who these people are who are out to get you?

[Tris]

It always has done in the past Gumboots. If/when the fans really turn, the board will have no option other than to act. - and the fans know it. Once it starts, it will happen every game and a club can't possibly function under those circumstances.

For what it's worth, I think it's plain daft saying that the lack of a fans revolt, is proof that the fans back Ince. There's no logic in that at all.

The fans haven't turned Den. Ewood Park is a much better barometer than the internet.

The tone of this messageboard is giving ammunition to idiots like Holt to paint an unfair picture of us as Rovers fans, on a much more public stage.

Unfortunately, that tone is being set by a few dozen keyboard jockeys, not the 20,000 fans on Ewood Park yesterday.

[dlukeg1]

Sunday supplement clip - 7/12/08

Colour driven rubbish

Where does this idiot get off, thats the problem with muppets like Holt, he can get an audience to air ridiculous race driven drivel that makes me as a Rovers fan un-entitled to an opinion about what I consider the worst manager since Brian Kidd simply because Ince has a different colour of skin to me.

I see a poor football manager when I look at Ince - Holt must only see the "first Black English manager of the Premier League". Who's the racist?

If fools like him can make me a racist on that basis then I shudder to think how I will cope out in the real world facing people of different colour and background on a daily basis.

Fool Fool Fool.

[thenodrog]

I think you need to have a long look in the mirror before you accuse anyone of racism.

Well he would wouldn't he?

[RevidgeBlue]

I think you should look at Nicko's articles for what they are Simon - articles dressed up to make a story. That doesn't mean they're not true though.

Think of them as "being based on a true story"

Sorry den, it's a lot more than just this particular story. Nicko started off with a non-story about non attendance on the Welsh FA coaching course which got everyone agitated even before Ince got here, and he hasn't written a positive word about Ince since.

We heard from him all summer about how Warnock was leaving for Newcastle etc. but stories such as Grella signing and RSC signing a new contract with the Club seemed to completely evade his radar.

And even now he still persists in banging on about "history" between Friedel and Ince as if it was Ince's fault Friedel left, which as Gordon points out is complete nonsense.

[BRFC1995]

3pts from 30+31 goals shipped in 16 games+0.9 goals per game in the last 10=No leg to stand on

Regardless of the quality of players in our defence, which has been proven not bad in previous seasons, we should under no manager be shipping 2 goals on average every game. Its the mantra of every manager thats ever been interviewed that you build from the back, Ince seems to have skipped that and gone straight for the beutiful game, and gushes about how well we passed the ball in defeat after every match.

[RevidgeBlue]

They are colleagues working for the same rag ffs Pafell! There's more chance of Glenn Miller landing in France tomorrow than of Nicko savaging Holt in print!

Or writing anything vaguely supportive of Ince.

[hollowsr]

Sorry den, it's a lot more than just this particular story. Nicko started off with a non-story about non attendance on the Welsh FA coaching course which got everyone agitated even before Ince got here, and he hasn't written a positive word about Ince since.

We heard from him all summer about how Warnock was leaving for Newcastle etc. but stories such as Grella signing and RSC signing a new contract with the Club seemed to completely evade his radar.

And even now he still persists in banging on about "history" between Friedel and Ince as if it was Ince's fault Friedel left, which as Gordon points out is complete nonsense.

Yeah and where was Nicko's story all summer about Andrews signing? Oh wait!! Not a good example!

Ok how about saying that Fowler was coming to train with us? He never broke that! Oh no he broke it the night before it happened!

Ok how about us being after Robinson? No bad example again he did tell us about that.

Not bad to be fair

[RibbleValleyRover]

The tone of this messageboard is giving ammunition to idiots like Holt to paint an unfair picture of us as Rovers fans, on a much more public stage.

Hold on a sec. Holt is saying that Ince is getting a lot of flack because of the colour of his skin, he is essentially playing the racism card for Ince's troubles.

Maybe its just me but i haven't come across any posts by Rovers fans that have said Ince should be sacked because he is black. I've also checked out a few other forums and haven't seen any of this racial hatred Holt claims is there.

Holt is completley out of line with his comments and is very far from the truth. The truth is we are 19th in the league and haven't won for 10 games, thats why Ince is under pressure. The rubbish that Holt spouts is complete nonsense.

[thenodrog]

Where does this idiot get off, thats the problem with muppets like Holt, he can get an audience to air ridiculous race driven drivel that makes me as a Rovers fan un-entitled to an opinion about what I consider the worst manager since Brian Kidd simply because Ince has a different colour of skin to me.

I see a poor football manager when I look at Ince - Holt must only see the "first Black English manager of the Premier League". Who's the racist?

If fools like him can make me a racist on that basis then I shudder to think how I will cope out in the real world facing people of different colour and background on a daily basis.

Fool Fool Fool.

No doubt he'll want us to change the name of the town too on racist grounds. Maybe we should draw attention to his ridiculous suggestions by all turning up with KKK hoods and waving cans of lighter fuel whilst chanting 'One Oliver Holt... There's only one Oliver Holt' next home match.

[Bobby G]

To be fair he has said Brad left not because of Ince but cause of Villa. Also we all know Brad handed in a transfer request the day after Hughesy left...So I dont think it was cut and dry that Ince would become the gaffer then was it?

Nicko is merely highlighting a history of bust-ups with certain players...

[my_name_is_Earl]

The fans haven't turned Den. Ewood Park is a much better barometer than the internet.

The tone of this messageboard is giving ammunition to idiots like Holt to paint an unfair picture of us as Rovers fans, on a much more public stage.

Unfortunately, that tone is being set by a few dozen keyboard jockeys, not the 20,000 fans on Ewood Park yesterday.

I was under the impression Tris that the fans were happy with the commitment and dedication that the players showed after such a shambolic performance against united and not Paul Ince. Unfortunately some fans feel that Ince does have a future here which is terribly naive given the circumstances. What I can't understand though is why you want to hang on to a manager who can't win a match rather than make the change now and give us a fighting chance of staying up?

The only reason the fans didn't boo Ince yesterday is because we weren't expected to get a result against the top of the league side and the players actually attempted to play football. Unfortunately this papered over some severe cracks that have been apparent all season, tatically poor (making subs too late on) and the fact we struggled to keep hold of the ball and how many shots was Robinson forced to save?!

[RevidgeBlue]

Yeah and where was Nicko's story all summer about Andrews signing? Oh wait!! Not a good example!

Ok how about saying that Fowler was coming to train with us? He never broke that! Oh no he broke it the night before it happened!

Ok how about us being after Robinson? No bad example again he did tell us about that.

Not bad to be fair

Yep, he broke two stories that portrayed Ince in a poor light and ignored two positive stories.

And whilst he was right about Robinson, he tried to insinuate Ince was pushing Brad out.