Paul Ince has earned himself the permanent managerial position at Reading.

The former Rovers boss returned to management with the Championship side in February, ending an eight-year spell out of the game, as he replaced Veljko Paunovic on an interim basis.

Ince won four and drew three of his first 11 games in charge, including a 1-0 win over Rovers, as they secured Championship safety with three games remaining.

Despite finishing the season with three successive losses, they finished the season four points above the dropzone, with Ince doing enough to earn himself a permanent contract.

Ince’s 21-game stay at Ewood Park between June and December 2008 brought only six wins before being dismissed having joined the club from MK Dons.

The 54-year-old went on to manage Notts County and Blackpool before an extended break from management, but he and assistant Alex Rae have now signed deals to stay at the Select Car Leasing stadium.

“Paul and Alex were brought into Bearwood to instil confidence, structure, spirit and determination into a first-team squad which in difficult circumstances had lost its way early in the year,” said club chief executive Dayong Pang.

“And ultimately, he had to produce almost immediate results.

“Fourteen points from their first 10 games proved enough to keep the club in the Championship and I am delighted that Paul and Alex have accepted the challenge to take this club forward.”

Meanwhile, former Rovers assistant boss Mark Bowen, who finished the 2019/20 season in charge of the Royals, has returned to the club to work as head of football operations.

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