PAUL Ince has the backing of the League Managers' Association as he emerged last night as the leading contender to become the new manager of Blackburn Rovers.

Under current Premier League rules, the MK Dons chief - now the odds-on favourite to become Mark Hughes' successor at Ewood - is not eligible to manage in English football's top division because he does not possess a UEFA Pro Coaching Licence.

However, with the LMA ready to fight his corner, the former England and Manchester United star is confident he will be granted a special dispensation by the Premier League in the next 24 hours, which will then leave him in pole position to be formally offered the Rovers job.

Confirming his support for Ince last night, Richard Bevan, the chief executive of the League Managers' Association, said: "I've met with Paul a couple of times and we are doing everything possible to help him get the qualifications he needs.

"He's one of our members and has been a manager for the last two seasons, so we'll be very supportive in whatever way we can.

"The Premier League rules about having the correct licences are very clear, but there have been exceptions to it.

"The LMA tries to represent the best interests of its clients and we'll continue to do that with Paul in terms of finding him suitable courses to attend."

The LMA's support for Ince could well be crucial in the battle to persuade the Premier League to relax its rules.

In similar circumstances in the past, the LMA have vigorously opposed the appointments of Glenn Roeder at Newcastle, and Gareth Southgate at Middlesbrough, arguing on both occasions the respective clubs were guilty of circumventing the rules'.

This time, however, they appear to be fully behind Ince, mainly because he has already spent two years cutting his teeth as a manager in the lower leagues.

Rovers, meanwhile, will wait to hear the Premier League's verdict before formally making an approach to the MK Dons for Ince.

But, assuming that judgement turns out to be favourable, Ince is then expected to win the race for the Ewood hot-seat, ahead of Sam Allardyce, Steve McClaren, and a fourth mystery target, who was interviewed in Switzerland earlier this week.

Refuting speculation Ince has already been offered the job, chairman John Williams told the Lancashire Telegraph last night: "I can categorically tell you no-one has been offered the manager's job yet.

"The board has yet to make a final decision but there could be some sort of announcement on Friday."

The fact Rovers have gone to so much trouble trying to establish if Ince would be allowed to manage in the Premier League suggests he is the man the board want as their next manager.

Regarded as one of the brightest young bosses in the English game, the 40-year-old has made an impressive start to his managerial career, saving Macclesfield from relegation in his first season, before guiding MK Dons to promotion from League Two, and the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, a year later.

On the back of those achievements, he was recently voted the LMA's manager of the year in League Two