Paul Ince set for Blackpool job

Paul Ince looks set to be announced as the new Blackpool manager before the weekend after extensive meetings with chairman Karl Oyston Oyston is on the verge of announcing Ince as the new manager, bringing an end to the club's lengthy search for a successor to Michael Appleton, who became Blackburn manager five weeks ago. The hunt for a new manager has been extensive, with over 20 candidates being considered, but Ince appears the man to fill the hotseat at Bloomfield Road. The former England international spent six months with Championship rivals Blackburn in 2008, but the 45-year-old has been without a job since April 2011, when he parted company with Notts County. With son Tom at the club, Ince Snr has been attending a lot of Blackpool games this season, and would come into the role having already developed an opinion on how to improve the side. It is also understood that the former Liverpool and Manchester United star has agreed to keep current caretaker manager Steve Thompson at the club as his assistant manager. The Tangerines are currently 14th in the table, 10 points behind sixth-placed Middlesbrough and will be keen to maintain their bid for a play-off place.