Former Bolton Wanderers and Newcastle United manager Sam Allardyce took charge of troubled Blackburn Rovers on a three-year contract on Wednesday.

"Blackburn Rovers are delighted to announce the appointment of Sam Allardyce as manager with immediate effect," the club said on their website (www.rovers.premiumtv.co.uk).

The 54-year-old replaces Paul Ince, who was sacked on Tuesday after six successive Premier League defeats.

Blackburn, who host fellow strugglers Stoke City on Saturday, are second from bottom.

Allardyce made his name at Bolton after taking over in October 1999.

He guided the club to the first division playoffs and an FA Cup semi-final in his first campaign before winning promotion to the Premier League a season later.

Allardyce resigned two matches before the end of the 2006-07 season and was appointed Newcastle manager in May last year.

Despite a promising start, heavy home defeats by Portsmouth and Liverpool led to him leaving this January.

Former England [Images] midfielder Ince, 41, was appointed by Rovers on a three-year deal in June, replacing his former Manchester United [Images] team mate Mark Hughes who left to take over at Manchester City.

Rovers began the season with a win at Everton but picked up just two further league victories, the last in late September.