Paul Ince has today returned to MK Dons as manager, the club have confirmed, signing a two-year contract with the side he left just a year ago to succeed Mark Hughes as manager at Blackburn Rovers.

Unfortunately, Ince, who enjoyed a successful playing career with West Ham United, Manchester United, Inter and Liverpool, as well as the England national team, found things tricky at Ewood Park.

Rovers won only six of the 21 games under his stewardship, and Ince was sacked by the Lancashire club just prior to Christmas. Sam Allardyce succeeded him, and kept the club, seemingly set for relegation, in the Premier League.

Dons chairman Pete Winkelman told the club’s official website, “I’m absolutely thrilled to be able to bring Paul back to Milton Keynes. He enjoyed incredible success during his first spell with us and showed himself more than worthy of a shot at the Premier League.

“But we always felt he had unfinished business here and it feels absolutely right that he should return to the Club and build on the very momentum he helped to create.

“Paul’s achievements and the manner in which he left meant we had to see him before we even considered anyone else and it was obvious straight away that the chemistry was still there. People like Paul Ince never lose their passion, their determination and their ability to inspire and we’ve already seen what those qualities can do.

“Paul remains one of the most talented young managers in this country and I’m enormously excited about what he can help us achieve.”

Ince became the favourite to replace Roberto Di Matteo as MK Dons boss once the Italian accepted the vacancy at West Bromwich Albion.