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 [ Images ] 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 [ Images ].

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