Coyle holds talks with Bolton

Coyle holds talks with Bolton

Monday, 4 January 2010


Bolton Wanderers are hoping to prise Owen Coyle from Burnley in the next 24 hours.

The Clarets boss is due to meet chairman Barry Kilby at a secret location tonight to discuss his future.


Burnley have confirmed that Coyle has already held talks with Bolton over the vacant manager's position following the departure of Gary Megson last week.


Coyle is keen to return to the club where he enjoyed two-and-a-half seasons as a player in the 90s.

The Clarets boss is due to meet chairman Barry Kilby at a secret location tonight to discuss his future.


Burnley have confirmed that Coyle has already held talks with Bolton over the vacant manager's position following the departure of Gary Megson last week.


Coyle is keen to return to the club where he enjoyed two-and-a-half seasons as a player in the 90s.






But apparently Bolton will have to come up with more than £3million in compensation.

It is understood that clause was inserted into the his contract when he signed a 12-month extension to his existing three-year deal in the summer.


Bolton chairman Phil Gartside short-listed Coyle for the manager's job before he appointed Megson in October 2007 and subsequently recommended him to Burnley, where the Scot took over the following month.


When Megson was sacked last week Coyle was installed as Gartside's top target and it appears the ambitious 43-year-old would welcome a move.

Having steered Burnley to promotion to the top flight for the first time in 33 years Coyle has had to work on a shoestring budget.

He recently remarked after the St Stephen's Day fixture with Bolton that they had three times Burnley's budget.


A statement issued by Burnley read: 'We can now confirm that manager Owen Coyle has held discussions with Bolton over the vacant manager's position at the Reebok Stadium.
'Burnley chairman Barry Kilby will now meet with Coyle to discuss his future at Turf Moor. This will take place following Coyle's return from Scotland tonight. Burnley will not make any further comment at this time.'


Megson failed to win over a section of the fans during his 24-month reign and Bolton Supporters Association spokesman David Blackburn said Coyle would an ideal appointment.


'I think he can help us turn a corner,' he told the Bolton News. 'The fans love him, and I'd like think we have got a bit more about us than Burnley in terms of money, potential and stadium.


'He plays the right kind of football that can get people back interested in the club and back into the Reebok.

'The first thing he has to do is keep us up, but he's exactly the right man to do it.'