Paul Ince will start work at Blackburn Rovers this morning after becoming the first black Briton to be named as manager of a Premier League club, but the former England captain immediately faces several difficult challenges, most notably to persuade David Bentley and Roque Santa Cruz that he can help them to fulfil their ambitions at Ewood Park.

Ince, 40, who led MK Dons to promotion to Coca-Cola League One last season, required special dispensation from the Premier League before the appointment could be finalised because of his lack of coaching qualifications and his managerial skills will be tested by the situation he faces regarding Bentley, the England midfield player, who has stated his desire to move to a bigger club, and Santa Cruz, the Paraguay forward, who is attracting interest from Arsenal and Manchester United. Benni McCarthy, the South Africa forward, is also understood to be unsettled.

Bentley, in particular, appears determined to leave, even if none of the “big four” is willing to offer him the Champions League football that he craves. The 23-year-old regards Aston Villa, Everton, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur as potential destinations and had indicated that he would not change his mind, no matter who was appointed by Blackburn to take over from Mark Hughes.

More experienced managers such as Sam Allardyce, Steve McClaren and Michael Laudrup were also interviewed for the job as successor to Hughes, who left for Manchester City this month, but Ince impressed John Williams, the Blackburn chairman, with his energy and enthusiasm. He has signed a three-year contract and is expected to be followed to Blackburn by Ray Mathias, his assistant at MK Dons.

Ince’s appointment will be widely applauded, given that he becomes only the third black manager in Premier League history - after Ruud Gullit and Jean Tigana - and the first black Briton.

Last year, shortly after launching his managerial career with Macclesfield Town, Ince implied that he felt there was institutional racism in the board-rooms of English football, but said he was confident that he could challenge perceptions and break down barriers for black managers.

Ince can be grateful that the Premier League was in no mood to block his appointment, given that he does not have the Uefa Pro Licence or even the Uefa B Licence, which are mandatory for managers in the top division. Having been approached by Blackburn, the league gave the appointment its blessing on Friday, allowing him two years’ grace to earn the necessary qualifications.

Ince will be formally introduced at a press conference tomorrow and leaves MK Dons with a glowing tribute. “After what he has achieved in his time with the club, we cannot deny Paul the deserved opportunity to work in the greatest league in the world,” the club said in a statement. “We know everybody in Milton Keynes will join us in wishing him every continued success in what is certain to be a fascinating managerial career.”