MK Dons chairman Pete Winkelman has reluctantly admitted that the Blackburn Rovers job proved simply too tempting for Paul Ince to turn down.

The Guv'nor made history on Sunday when he was announced as the new Blackburn boss, becoming the first black British manager to work in the top flight of English football.

The former England captain has been handed a three-year deal at Ewood Park and will officially take over as manager on Tuesday.

And he will leave stadium:mk as the most successful manager in the club's short history, guiding them to an historic League Two and Johnstone's Paint Trophy double.

Pete Winkelman has thanked Ince for his time at the club and said the chance to manage in the Premier League was just good to stand in Ince's way.

"It was always going to take something special to tempt Paul away from Milton Keynes," he said.

"I've said this all the way through. We've been fighting off advances for him for more than six months now, but at the end of the day you have got to put yourself in Paul's shoes and think about what he wants."

Speculation over Ince's future had reached fever pitch during the last week as Rovers looked to replace the departed Mark Hughes, but Winkelman insists the deal only took place on Sunday.

"In the end it didn't come as any surprise what happened, but it only
came about on Sunday and happened really quickly.

"In the space of an hour and a half Paul went from being manager of MK Dons, to being the new manager of Premier League Blackburn Rovers.

"And at the end of the day after what Paul has achieved here and knowing of his desire to be in the Premier League, there was no way I could stand in his way, so the deal went through very smoothly.

"He has been hugely loyal, he has turned down a huge amount of jobs, about half a dozen before this, but this one was a unique opportunity."

And Winkelman has also confirmed that popular assistant manager Ray Mathias will be following Ince to Ewood Park.

"We are not 100 per cent sure yet about all the backroom staff, but these things happen so fast.

"Obviously Paul is the focus but he brought in a number of people to the club, all of whose contracts are tied to him, so we expect to lose Ray and Karl Robinson, the first team coach.

"But we don't expect to lose our physio and sports science staff, who will be the people that step into the breach to make sure that we get properly prepared for next season.

And Winkelman also told the Citizen that a compensation package had been agreed, but wouldn't comment on rumours it was around the £500,000 mark.

Despite being obviously disappointed to lose his man, the Dons chairman
wishes Ince well for the future, and is sure that Ince will never forget his time st stadium:mk.

"One thing is for sure, he will never forget his time with the club, and the club will never forget his time here.

"Milton Keynes Dons' history is now formly entwined with the name Paul Ince.

"He has brought us our first silverware and that can never be taken away from him or us.

"The challenge now is to try and fill those impossible boots because we still have plenty of ambition as a football club and there is so much more to achieve.

"We have had a taste of what success can bring and that is something we want to push on with.

"So the next appointment is a very important one and we hope to get it right third time."