Ince handed £3m transfer boost by Blackburn's trustees

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Blackburn Rovers' new manager, Paul Ince, has been given a £3m boost to his transfer funds after the Jack Walker Trustees decided to reinstate their annual payment to the club.

The trustees had ended their funding when the latest bumper TV deal kicked in last season but promised to review the decision every year. The change of manager and the looming possibility of a takeover of Blackburn have now prompted them to restore the funding. Blackburn's chairman, John Williams, said: "The trustees are going to put some more in this year and see where we go from there, so we are delighted. It will help us to remain competitive, and help Paul Ince as well.

"It was only last year at the onset of the new TV deal that the money was not paid and it was always left that we would review the situation."

Ince will this week step up his effort to sign Fulham and Northern Ireland player Steve Davis. After enjoying a successful loan spell with Rangers last season, Davis is back with Fulham for pre-season training. It is unlikely, though, that he will stay there with Blackburn and the Glasgow club leading the race for the 23-year-old midfielder.

Meanwhile, Blackburn's captain Ryan Nelsen has thanked Ince for allowing him to go to the Beijing Olympics with New Zealand. Nelsen said: "I put the new manager in a difficult position and I really appreciate that he's allowed me to go. With New Zealand we don't get to go to very many major tournaments and the Olympics is obviously a major one. Thankfully he's met me half-way and let me go for the first two games."