BLACKBURN Rovers' players have been warned to expect a blast of the famous Fergie hairdryer' at times next season if they fail to live up to the standards demanded by their new Guv'nor.

Paul Ince, who is expected to be formally installed as Rovers' new manager this week, is another graduate of the Sir Alex Ferguson school of management, just like his predecessor Mark Hughes, having been part of the same Manchester United team that dominated the Premier League in the early 1990s.

And although Ince has since tried to stamp his own authority on the job during a brief, but highly impressive, apprenticeship in the lower leagues, it would appear he also shares some of the traits that enabled his old mentor, Fergie, to build such an enviable dynasty at Old Trafford.

Kevin Gallen, who has played under Ince at MK Dons, insists the 40-year-old is not afraid to administer the occasional rollocking if he feels his teams are not performing to his own exacting standards.

So anyone in the Rovers dressing room thinking they could be in for an easy ride now that Hughes has left for Manchester City had better think again.

"I've worked with a lot of managers during my career, but I have to say I've been impressed with Paul," said former QPR striker Gallen.

"The biggest thing is he has the respect of the players for what he achieved in his own playing career.

"He had a reputation as a leader and a hardman on the pitch, but he's not a ranter and raver in the dressing room.

"Having said that, he can get a stern message across when he wants to and everyone listens to him.

"The other thing is he always demands 100 per cent from his players in training - he expects the same as he does on a Saturday, and that's total commitment.

"If he doesn't get it, that's when you see him get angry. A fair few of the players have had some rollockings from him - he's not afraid to dish them out.

"I'm sure it'll be the same if and when he becomes a Premier League manager."

Born in Ilford in 1968, Ince came from humbling beginnings, but he was still spotted by West Ham at the age of 12, and went on to make his first-team debut for the Hammers seven years later.

Then came a big-money move to Manchester United, where Ince became synonymous with Fergie's all-conquering team of the early 1990s.

In 1995, barely a month after United lost out to Blackburn in a thrilling title race, Ince quit Old Trafford for Italy, where he linked up with Roy Hodgson at Inter Milan, and enjoyed three years at the San Siro, before returning to England to sign for Liverpool.

A ferocious competitor who never gave less than a hundred per cent, Ince was also a regular in the England team for seven years, winning a total of 53 caps, and becoming the country's first black captain - a feat which he is immensely proud of.

After further spells at Middlesbrough and Wolves, Ince then joined Swindon as player-coach to Dennis Wise - a move which eventually led him into the world of management.

Ince's first managerial job was to save Macclesfield Town from relegation to the Nationwide Conference - a feat he achieved on the final day of the season.

Then came a move to MK Dons, who he guided to promotion from League Two, and success in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, in his first season.

Now the Premier League is beckoning for Ince, and Gallen believes he has all the right credentials to be a success in English football's top division.

"He won the only two trophies he could realistically win last season so he must have done something right," said Gallen.

"And he did it by hardly spending any money, unlike other clubs in that division such as Peterborough.

"Paul is definitely a manager who likes to see the game played in the right way. Our training sessions with the Dons involved a lot of ball-work - that's not the case at all clubs.

"But it's great for the players, and he's also great for team spirit. If he organises a night-out and you turn up late or don't show up, then you'll be in trouble.

"He's a very confident individual - he's said before he wants to manage some of the clubs he played for, and that means going to the very top. You wouldn't bet against him doing that, he's certainly made a great start.

"Incey has also worked for some top managers, including the very best, Alex Ferguson, and he's taken something from each of them."