Paul Ince believes people envious of his success as a player are trying to drive him out of management

In their pomp in the mid-1990s, no-one could touch them at Manchester United.

Together with Roy Keane, Paul Ince formed the most formidable midfield partnership seen in the Premiership and many an opponent was trampled underfoot.

Fast forward 13 years to today and the Guv'nor claims all those people envious of their titles and FA Cups are finally getting their own back in their own spiteful way. Having driven Keane from Sunderland, he feels they are now determined to get him sacked at Blackburn.

Ince believes that is the only reason to explain why he is being put under so much pressure when other managers involved in the relegation dogfight are getting an easy ride.

He highlighted Joe Kinnear and he can't believe he has been given a contract until the end of the season when he is still fighting to keep Newcastle up. "There are people out to get us," said the Rovers boss.

"They look at Keane and I in our Manchester United days and see us as snarly old people. But we're not like that.

We're nice guys, family men. People are envious and don't want us to succeed.

"That has always been the way through my career and Keano's career. That just makes you a stronger person. It doesn't bother me.

"All I want people to understand is the hard facts and not just focus on two young men who are trying to make their way in football and to kick us around all the bloody time.

"It just winds me up when every day there is something about Blackburn, Blackburn, Blackburn. Jobs on the line, jobs on the line, jobs on the line. But Joe Kinnear is two points away from me and nobody is mentioning him.

"Nobody is mentioning Harry Redknapp.

It has just been Ince, Keane, Ince, Keane.

"At this point, Kinnear is only two points above us with a team that is worth £70million. We got beat on Wednesday by £40m worth of talent in Tevez and Nani. That was the difference between Manchester United and Blackburn. We scored three goals at Old Trafford, but Tevez scored four."

The statistics tell a different story, however. Since Kinnear took over at St James' Park, Newcastle have taken 11 points from nine games, while Blackburn have only managed three.

Redknapp has an even better tally of 13 points from seven games in charge of Tottenham compared to just two points from the same number of fixtures for Ince.

That's the real reason why some of the Blackburn board are beginning to doubt Ince and Rovers are currently on a barren run of nine Premier League games without a win.

To make matters worse, he faces his old club and league leaders Liverpool at Ewood Park today in the first of five games this month which will determine his fate.

He feels it is wrong that he is having to work under so much pressure at a time when young English managers should be encouraged.

"Any manager coming into the Premier League, or the game, why should we not have time?" he argued.

"It takes time with all managers. It just annoys me the fact that everybody is haranguing for the younger managers to be sacked when they have just got into the job.

"It's important the likes of myself, Gareth Southgate and Tony Adams get their grounding in the Premier League and some experience because you like to think the next England manager is going to be English.

"Not necessarily me, but somebody English."

The supporters are beginning to lose faith in Ince and some jeered him in the 5-3 Carling Cup defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford.

"The fans can get on my back as much as they want," he said. "The important thing is they don't get on the players' backs. They can say what they like about me, I'm thick skinned. I've dealt with it all my life.

It's not an issue for me."

Ince's fate will be decided when he sits down with chairman John Williams, who is still behind him because he was his appointment, and discusses how much money he will have to spend next month.

The club's Jersey-based trustees are getting nervous and may not want to sanction much spending if they are no longer certain Ince is the man for them.

For Ince, this decision is pivotal and clear cut. "This club needs to spend money," he said. "You can't be in the Premier League and not invest - there are no grey areas."

If they decide to give him a decent transfer kitty, he will have a fighting chance of keeping Rovers up and hanging on to his job. Too little, and his fate will be sealed.

Ince's 2008 HIGHS & LOWS

June 21: Becomes the first British black boss of a Premier League club.

Aug 16: Blackburn come from a goal behind to win 3-2 at Everton.

Aug 27: Win 2-1 at Newcastle to make it a healthy 10 points from six games.

August 30: Ince is jeered by West Ham fans as Rovers lose 4-1 away.

Nov 15: Rovers lose 2-1 at home to Sunderland to slip into bottom three.

Nov 30: Lose 3-2 at Pompey - Rovers' ninth winless league game.

Dec 3: Ince is abused by Rovers fans during 5-3 Carling Cup defeat at Old Trafford.