Paul Ince continues to walk a tightrope at Blackburn Rovers, aware that a slip-up away to Wigan Athletic on Saturday could bring his tenure to an end, but he has been instructed to draw up a list of potential targets for the January transfer window in the event that he survives the next four matches.

The Blackburn board informed Ince on Tuesday that they were willing to give him a little longer to turn things around after a wretched sequence of ten Barclays Premier League matches without a win, but he is aware that defeat by Wigan or at home to Stoke City a week later would probably result in his dismissal after only six months in charge.

Ince put forward a strong case at the board meeting to be given more time, beyond the Christmas fixtures, but he was left in little doubt that the turnaround had to be immediate, with the club in danger of being set adrift in the relegation zone.

Nevertheless, the board allowed to Ince outline his plans to reinforce his squad in the January transfer window, which include a possible move to sign Aleksandrs Cauna, the Skonto Riga and Latvia winger. Cauna, 20, is highly rated, having made a decent impression while on trial at Chelsea a year ago, and is regarded as a cheaper alternative to Jermaine Pennant, of Liverpool, for the right-wing berth.

Blackburn hope to take Cauna on trial shortly, with a view to a permanent deal next month. There is little money to spend at Ewood Park — unless the club accept the

£15 million that may be offered by Manchester City for Roque Santa Cruz, the striker — but Ince also hopes to sign a right back, a midfield player and, possibly, another centre forward.

Nigel Winterburn, the club’s defensive coach, said that he expects Ince to turn things around, having expressed shock at the “savage” criticism that the manager has suffered since his arrival from Milton Keynes Dons in June.

“I don’t think he would be at Blackburn if he didn’t believe that he could turn things around,” Winterburn, the former Arsenal and England defender, said. “The players are certainly behind him and it looks like the board will back him as well.

“That is the most important thing. It doesn’t matter what other people think, it is just a case of starting to put the results right on the pitch. That will dispel all the rumours flying around and that will happen very quickly.”

Winterburn said that Ince had made huge strides in his short career in the top flight. “He has adapted very quickly, especially over the last couple of weeks with the things which have been written against him,” he said. “He will be learning all the time what it is like to manage in the Premier League and I’m sure you will see a massive improvement from the team in the next few weeks to lift them away from the relegation zone.”