As Paul Ince waited last night for the outcome of a board meeting that would determine his immediate fate as Blackburn Rovers manager, he was left in no doubt that any reprieve would serve only as a stay of execution unless he can transform the team’s fortunes in what is threatening to be a protracted battle against relegation.

John Williams, the chairman, has spent the past week urging his fellow directors at Blackburn to give Ince a little more time, but, with only three points taken from the past ten Barclays Premier League matches, he recognises the need for an immediate upturn in results, starting away to Wigan Athletic on Saturday. Williams believes that 40 points will be required to avoid relegation and, as the halfway point in the campaign approaches, he has set the team a target of nine wins from their remaining matches.

“We have 22 games left and the sooner we start picking up the wins, the better the situation will look,” Williams said yesterday before the scheduled board meeting at Edwood Park, where Ince’s position was due to be discussed. “The players and the manager believe our fortunes will change once we get that first win, but we all know we need that win quickly. At the moment, nine wins from 22 looks more than possible. But if we go a few more games still needing nine wins, it looks more and more difficult.”

Blackburn took a gamble in appointing Ince in June after he led Milton Keynes Dons to promotion from Coca-Cola League Two, but, since an encouraging start to the season, results have taken a severe turn for the worse. Even if he were to survive in the short term, Ince’s position would look perilous going into the second half of the season unless he can bring about a dramatic improvement over the coming weeks. Graeme Souness, one of his predecessors, and Sam Allardyce are among those who would be considered for a survival mission.