Blackburn Rovers has fired Paul Ince, the Premier League's first British black manager, after only six months on the job.

Blackburn made the move after it suffered six consecutive EPL losses to fall into the relegation zone.

"Three wins in 17 games has seen a squad, which finished seventh last season, fall to 19th position," Rovers chairman John Williams said in a club statement. "We are currently in real danger in becoming detached from the pack. The survival of the club in the Premier League is paramount, and our focus now is finding a replacement who will be able to maintain our top division status. Paul will bounce back, he is a fighter, and we wish him well."

Ince, a former England midfielder, was hired in June, replacing his former Manchester United teammate Mark Hughes, who left to take over Manchester City.

One of Blackburn's first moves after Ince's arrival was to sell American Brad Friedel, a rock in goal in recent years, to Aston Villa.

Ince is the sixth Premier League manager to leave this season. Other departures:

Alan Curbishley (West Ham United)
Kevin Keegan (Newcastle United)
Roy Keane (Sunderland)
Juande Ramos (Tottenham)
Harry Redknapp (Portsmouth)