Bolton staying quiet on Coyle move, say Burnley

BURNLEY yesterday insisted no contact has been made by Bolton to speak to boss Owen Coyle about their vacant manager’s post.

The Trotters have made Coyle their prime candidate to succeed Gary Megson, who was sacked earlier this week.

However Burnley insist there has been no contact from Bolton regarding Coyle’s availability.

“There has been no discussion about our manager’s future and no contact from Bolton regarding Owen Coyle,’’ a Burnley spokesman said.

Coyle has established himself as one of the country’s most promising tacticians having guided the Clarets to the Premier League on a limited budget.

Coyle has refused to change his free flowing attacking principles upon promotion.

And while Burnley have received their fair share of heavy defeats, they have punched well above their weight and have lost just once at home.

Bolton felt they needed a change of direction after the club’s supporters lost faith in Megson, who was never a popular figure in the stands of the Reebok.

A move for Coyle, a former favourite at Bolton in his playing days, would likely placate those long-since exasperated by the direct style of football employed by Megson.

Earlier this week Coyle, a target of Celtic prior to their appointment of Tony Mowbray, insisted he was concentrating on the job in hand at Turf Moor.

“I had a lot of fantastic times at Bolton and loved every minute,” he added.

“But I love being at this football club and I have shown that.

“I have had speculation time and time again but, as always, I am concentrating on the job in hand.”

Meanwhile Megson has admitted the fans at the Reebok Stadium never accepted him.

“It used to surprise me that the reaction I got was a lot different around the country from the one in Bolton.

“I have been absolutely delighted by the reaction (to his sacking by Bolton) from real football people.’’

Megson helped Bolton avoid relegation in his first season in charge against the odds and he says he is proud with his achievements there.

“The sensible people have realised what position Bolton were in before and what position they are in now to go forward,’’ he said.

“I enjoyed the people I was working with and it was a real pleasure to work with the players on a daily basis.

Megson is keen to get back into work as soon as possible and has already been linked with the vacant manager’s position at Championship strugglers Sheffield Wednesday.