New Blackburn boss will only have £5m to spend in January

Blackburn's hopes of replacing Paul Ince were hit last night when it emerged a new manager would have a maximum of just £5million to spend.

Sam Allardyce has been linked with the job, as has former Rovers boss Graeme Souness, but both men would be shackled by the same constraints within which Ince is currently working.

Mirror Sport understands Rovers are actively seeking an investor to pump some muchneeded funds into the coffers.

Ince will today attend a monthly board meeting - scheduled five weeks ago - when the club are expected to discuss plans for the January window. But with Blackburn second from bottom, and without a win in 10 matches, a tense summit is expected.

The revelation of such a relatively small amount in the kitty comes just four months after Rovers were the lowest spenders in the summer at around £8m. That despite the sales of David Bentley to Tottenham for £18m and Brad Friedel to Aston Villa for £3m.

By contrast, Fulham and Stoke and even Premier League latecomers Hull have splashed out more money.

It raises questions about how income from player sales is spent at Ewood Park.

Suggestions that the board are unwilling to back Ince in the new year are wide of the mark.

But chairman John Williams is understood to be struggling to access funds tied up in the trust established by benefactor Jack Walker.

It is widely acknowledged that the sale of star striker Roque Santa Cruz - whose attitude within the club is said to be first class - would almost certainly condemn Rovers to relegation.

Ince is expected to be given the next few games against Wigan, Stoke and Sunderland, to turn things around with the board well aware that a couple of wins will propel the club into mid-table.

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