Ince will become the Seasiders’ third permanent boss of the season on Monday following Ian Holloway's move to Crystal Palace in November and his successor, Michael Appleton, leaving for Blackburn last month.

The manager will join his son, Thomas Ince, at the club which, following their 1-0 defeat away to Ipswich, currently sits 14th in the Championship, six points clear of safety and 10 points adrift of the play-offs.

Thompson confirmed that Ince, whose previous managerial experience equates to spells at Macclesfield Town, Milton Keynes Dons, Blackburn and Notts County, is due to take over at Bloomfield Road.

"There's going to be an announcement on Monday. It's going to be Paul Ince," he told reporters.

"The deal are very close to being done."

The current caretaker boss underlined his loyalty to the new boss as he hoped to assume his old role as assistant manager, but was also keen to assert his intentions of becoming a permanent manager sometime in the future.

"I'll just have to see what happens. I think Paul wants me to work with his team," he continued.

"I'll keep my head down and work as hard as I can for him, but further down the line, I want to be number one."