Having guided Burnley to the Premier League before reaping more acclaim at Bolton, the former Ireland international was relieved of his duties at the Reebok in October, as Wanderers struggled to adapt to the challenge of the Championship following relegation on the last day of the season.

ALEX FERGUSON was nodding in approval. It was the 2009 Carling Cup quarter-final against Arsenal and, having started to hear Owen Coyle’s name crop up more and more in football circles, the Manchester United manager finally took up Alastair Campbell’s invitation to go and watch Burnley play.