New Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce will use the Christmas fixtures to assess his squad but says he does not have to sell his star players.

"We don't have to sell anyone in the January transfer window," said the former Bolton and Newcastle boss.

"I think it is very important from my point of view. I have joined the club because I know the players.

"I know how good they are and it is one of the reasons I am here so why would I want to sell any of my best ones?"

And Blackburn chairman John Williams added: "The key thing is he believes he can get the best out of what we have got.

"You are not going to get out of jail if you sell your best players."

Rovers, who sacked Paul Ince on Tuesday, are second bottom of the Premier League with just 13 points.

Speaking as he was unveiled as the new manager at Ewood Park, Allardyce also revealed that he had turned down the job in the summer.

"Six months ago it was a case of speaking with John Williams, going home and talking to my better half," he said.

"After 15 years straight managing and coaching I decided it was too early to jump back into the mainstream.

"Now I can get going in terms of getting my teeth stuck into the job and improving results, certainly in the beginning."

And Allardyce, 54, is preparing for a tough battle as he attempts to stave off relegation.

"Everyone here didn't expect the club to be in this position, but I've been there before and the players must respond quickly.

"You can never say you are too good to go down but the players have to get us out of trouble as quickly as possible.

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"It could take up to six games to catch those teams up but there are 21 games to go, we've got a relatively fit squad and it's about lifting their confidence and using the old adage of taking it one game at a time."

Allardyce is hoping that he brings the same immediate success to Ewood Park as Harry Redknapp did at Tottenham following his switch from Portsmouth.

"I hope I have a Harry Redknapp Midas touch when it comes to Saturday," Allardyce continued.

"Things have become very rosy almost instantly for him and I hope that works for me in a difficult game against Stoke on Saturday."

Allardyce has wasted little time in stamping his mark on the club by appointing Neil McDonald as his assistant manager.

McDonald worked with Allardyce at Bolton and his arrival means two of Ince's backroom team, Ray Mathias and Archie Knox, have followed the ex-Manchester United, Inter Milan, Liverpool and England midfielder out the door.

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