Ince secures his final challenge

13 April 2012

Paul Ince's determination to 'get out from under the wife's feet' has carried him into one last challenge of a glittering career.

The 34-year-old midfielder with a service record of excellence for West Ham, Manchester United, Inter Milan, Liverpool and Middlesbrough yesterday became a late recruit to Wolves' First Division promotion campaign.

He will receive around £12,000 a week, far less than he could have earned by staying on at The Riverside, where he had been captain for the past three years.

That, however, was never an option for Ince who had made up his mind to end his playing career rather than face the daily five-hour round trip to Teesside from his home in Heswall on the Wirral, where he has just enjoyed his most relaxed summer in almost two decades.

He said: 'I've been in the game for 17 years, married for 12 of them, yet away from home most of the time. The past six or seven weeks have been nice because my wife Claire and I have been together so much. Yet although I was enjoying it, I suspect I was beginning to get under her feet.

'I think I was beginning to do her head in, she was trying to tell me she needed her own space and that, maybe, I should go out and get a job.

'I was ready to walk away from playing, but I was thinking that perhaps I would finish off a coaching course to acquire my full badge. Then I got a call from Dave Jones.'

When the Wolves manager made his telephone plea to enlist Ince's vast experience to bring Premiership football to Molineux, it was all the incentive he required to unpack his boots. He said: 'After being in the game for so long with top clubs, enjoyed success and even skippered England during 53 appearances for your country, it is difficult to find a challenge to keep yourself motivated.

'I couldn't see anything on the horizon until the approach from Wolves. This is still a big club and I believe they deserve to be in the Premiership.

'If I can be a part helping them to promotion, then it will have been worthwhile having played on another year. I will feel I have achieved something.' Ince has signed only a 12-month deal. He added: 'I'm 35 in October and when you get to that age you don't sign long-term contracts. In six months I might feel great and look forward to another year - but if I felt knackered, this season would be the last.

'I've not come here to cheat anyone or to be put out to pasture. I've established a certain reputation of which I'm proud. Maybe I'm not the same type of up-and-down midfielder I was a few years ago but I've gained experience which, hopefully, I can put to good use for Wolves.'

Having also landed Denis Irwin from Manchester United recently, Jones knows he has the backbone of matchwinning maturity that was sorely missed last season when Wolves missed promotion after being 10 points clear of the pack.

Jones said: 'Paul will give us additional quality, drive and know-how.'

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Ince secures his final challenge

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