Ince led MK Dons to the League Two title last season
Paul Ince moved a step closer to being named Blackburn boss after the Premier League gave the club dispensation over his failure to hold a Uefa Pro Licence.
Ince will be allowed two years to earn his licence paving the way for him to be named as the new manager of Rovers.
The MK Dons boss is Rovers' number one target following Mark Hughes' exit.
Former England manager Steve McClaren, ex-Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce and former Getafe coach Michael Laudrup have also been linked with the post.
In order to be a football manager in the top divisions of countries like Spain, Italy, Germany and France, coaches must have the Uefa Pro Licence qualification.
The licence requires 240 hours of study and usually takes a year to gain.
In England in the past, special dispensations have been given to the likes of Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate and former Chelsea manager Avram Grant.
The League Managers' Association chief executive Richard Bevan has insisted he would not lobby against Ince's appointment.
Rovers chairman John Williams has maintained the club have not yet made an offer to anyone for the post.
"We are now down to a small short-list," Williams told BBC Radio Lancashire. "I am delighted with how the process is going and we hope to make a decision by the weekend.
"We have steadily gone about our business in the proper manner but we have not yet made an offer to anyone at this stage."
However, BBC Radio 5 Live reporter Juliette Ferrington understands that Ince will become Blackburn boss.
She said: "The former England captain has always been a target of Blackburn and MK Dons are expecting the situation to be resolved in the next few days.
"Sam Allardyce has also been interviewed for the job but I understand he is likely to miss out in favour of Ince."
Six candidates have been interviewed to succeed Hughes, who left Rovers for Manchester City on 5 June, with Ince, McClaren, ex-Denmark international Laudrup, and former Bolton and Newcastle manager Allardyce regarded as the leading candidates.
McClaren has been out of work since he was sacked by England in November after they failed to qualify for Euro 2008 and he told Radio 5 Live on 7 June that he would be interested in the Blackburn job.
But on Friday McClaren took over as Dutch side FC Twente.
Laudrup is reported in the Danish media to have been interviewed for the role.
Ince has had an impressive season with Milton Keynes Dons after moving from Macclesfield in June last year.
The 40-year-old former West Ham, Manchester United, Inter Milan and Liverpool midfielder led the Dons to the League Two title as well as the Football League Trophy in his first season with the club.
His achievements attracted the interest of Leicester City, who made an official approach to Milton Keynes for Ince's services earlier this month.
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
Bookmark with:
What are these?