Football FanCast columnist Adam Thompson applauds the appointment of Paul Ince and feels that he is more than capable of taking Blackburn Rovers to the next level.

At the backend of last season, (around the time when every insulting adjective was attached to Wolves Manager Mick McCarthy's name.), there came a cry for a new man to steer my club, the apparent ‘sleeping giant' back into the Premiership. Sam Allardyce, Steve McClaren even Graham Taylor were linked to the job. However the firm favourite was a man that had served Wolves well in his 4 year stay, a man that in his first season guided us to promotion and was the experienced head in our ill fated relegation season, that man was Paul Ince or as he likes to be known ‘The Guvnor'.

After McCarthy was selected over Ince as Wolves' man it seemed ironic he was the fans choice for his replacement. As Ince's name was beckoned to be brought back I couldn't help but think of what could have been if Ince had been selected over Mick McCarthy 2 years ago. As great a leader of men he is, The Guvnor has always been his own man and a lack loyalty has been somewhat of excess baggage when the Ince band wagon rolls into town. Despised by West Ham supporters and known as ‘Charlie' by Man United fans (this after Alex Ferguson's comments on his attitude) Paul Ince is no stranger to confrontation on or off the field. It was his desire to achieve that left me feeling a move to Wolves as manager would be a stepping stone to bigger things and his willingness to move (which I argue thus far as ambition) would have surely tainted the service he did show while wearing the gold and black shirt.

Ince has always stated his ambition to manage at the top, from his first managerial post at Macclesfield to his successful promotion campaign (not to mention a football league trophy win) with MK Dons. His honesty benefited both clubs, the respective chairmen were getting a manager striving for success and Ince was given the foundations to reach the top. It speaks for Paul Ince's character that whilst at League Two MK Dons he was talking himself up for the pending Inter Milan vacancy. As far fetched as that may seem for managers in the same circle as he, there was always a feeling that only Paul Ince could jump from the mundane surroundings of Milton Keynes to the pinnacle of Serie A.

However Paul Ince finds himself at Blackburn, a team in my opinion ready made to break the top four. Another of Fergie's apprentices, Mark Hughes has done the ground work now Ince takes on the baton. It's been a little over a decade since Blackburn was champions of England who better to shake them back into possible contenders than The Guvnor? His lack of experience will count against him, but two trophies and a successful relegation battle all would have been recognised upon his appointment. But what Ince lacks in managerial experience he makes up in drive and determination. His former United team mate Roy Keane has only two managerial years under his belt and you feel Keane will kick on from that.

By taking the Blackburn post he becomes the first black English manager in the Premiership a milestone to add to the great honour of becoming the first black England captain. Much has been made of a lack of black managers in English football, a great role model for the black community (myself incuded), critics of the lack of diversity in the game will be watching Ince with sincere interest seeing a success for Paul Ince as a success for the image of the game.

He has already stated he's relishing his return to West Ham and simply said he will tell Alex Ferguson ‘No' if he attempts to sign Roque Santa Cruz. The next Premiership season looks to be as exciting off the field as on it. With ‘Big' Phil Scolari joining Ince on the side lines, add this with Arsene Wenger, Alex Ferguson and Roy Keane and the evidence is there that England not only attracts the best players but the most talented managers too.

For Ince this hard work is to come, I'm sure he is under no illusions about the harsh nature of the top tier of English football he only has to look to his former international team mate Gareth Southgate who said ‘It's a lot harder what I thought and a lot harder than what you think' on management. The stage is set for Ince to prove he isn't all mouth and can hack it as a top flight manager; it has been this opportunity that has spurned the great man on, back in his playing career and so far in his managerial career. Will it be the chance to make Blackburn a top four side again? Or will it be a chance to get one over Fergie? Or Will Blackburn's success depend upon Ince's chance to become the first black manager to lift the Premiership trophy? He's already made history before, what's stopping him doing it again?

NB - Adam Thompson is competing in our Bloggers Euro Championship so if you can give his article a rating in the voting box, it would be greatly appreciated.