Coyle reaffirms exit desire

Compensation in the region of £3million to be discussed

Last updated: 5th January 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Coyle reaffirms exit desire

Coyle: Heading for Bolton

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Burnley have announced that manager Owen Coyle has reaffirmed his desire to leave the club and join North West rivals Bolton Wanderers.

The Clarets are now set to enter into talks with the Trotters due to the fact that compensation, believed to be valued at £3million, has yet to be agreed.

Bolton have been searching for a new boss since the sacking of Gary Megson following the 2-2 draw with Hull City on 29th December when a two-goal lead was surrendered.

A statement on Burnley's official website read: "Owen Coyle has today reaffirmed his desire to leave Burnley football club and join Bolton Wanderers football club.

"Burnley football club will now enter discussions with Bolton Wanderers football club, due to the fact that compensation between the two parties has yet to be agreed.

Hammer blow

"There will be no further comment at this time."

Megson had proved an unpopular choice with fans throughout his tenure and Bolton chairman Phil Gartside was understood to be keen to find an appeasing successor at the Reebok Stadium.

Coyle more than fits the bill as a former Wanderers player, while his style of play and success in taking Burnley in to the Premier League via the Championship play-offs last season has won many admirers.

In contrast, the news will come as a hammer blow for Burnley, who sit four places above relegation-zone occupants Bolton having played two games more.

Manchester United assistant manager Mike Phelan has been mentioned among the early candidates to succeed Coyle if he completes his move to the Reebok Stadium.

Comments (94)

Owen Lewis (Leeds United fan) says...

Coyle has really disappointed me - I thought he was a highly passionate and principled breath of fresh air in a football world full of selfishness, lies and deceit. A god no more at the Turf but not exactly a Judas. The Clarets will move on now and build with a manager who is capable of keeping them up with more sexy fluid football but a less fickle defence one hopes. Need to bring on the likes of MacDonald, Fletcher and Eagles, sign Nugent and a couple of boring, solid defenders and nick some away points. The next few games are really massive. Time to move on, appreciate what Coyle has achieved for the town but acknowledge that he's no God! Nooooo Naaaay Neveeeeer! Good luck Burnley n Bertie - full of pride - hopefully we only play you in a friendly next season...

Posted 02:44 8th January 2010

Michael Hipwell says...

Owen Coyle a Bolton legend?- how many games did he play for you- 60 wasnt it.Legends not made from 60 games. As for playing football again- what happened to the last Bolton manager to try to change to playing football- Sammy Lee. Didnt work did it. Up the Clarets.

Posted 22:01 7th January 2010

Ryan Bowton (Bolton Wanderers fan) says...

Bolton have always have been a bigger club since the day they were formed in the 19th century - bigger in everthing. we,ve just been on a blip for a few years. Fans nationwide ( not just Burnley fans ) are having a pop at us but they are short sighted and probably too young and ignorant about our club to know better - lads why dont you ask your dads about Burnden 50,000+ gates not that long ago. Their opinions on Bolton have been formed based on 1. Our style of play the last 10 years and being labelled the new ' Wimbledon' under BSA and Megson. 2. The apathy and moaning (justified about Megson ) of our supporters 3.Small crowds at the games 4.. Being plain unfashionable in some eyes.. Well as a Bolton fan for 40 years - Yes our football has been rubbish for quite a few years and frankly at the moment our fans are a miserable bunch of whingers ( but theyve had a lot to put up with ) and yes the crowds should be bigger and yes the Reebok is like sitting in a crematorium AT THE MOMENT. ....But all that ( everyone of us hopes ) is about to change for the better. I wish Burnley every success and I hope they stay in the Premiership for a long time . Their chairman seems like a decent man and their fans are a credit to the town .This whole affair will certainly add some spice to derby days....but a bigger club than Bolton.....never in a million years

Posted 18:49 7th January 2010

Leon Catterall (Bolton Wanderers fan) says...

Burnley fans your living in cuckoo land if you don't think Bolton are a bigger club than Burnley. Compare the last 20 years between the two clubs and the achievements that each team has had and it doesn't even come close. we've been to cup finals, uefa cup last 16 and top 10 premier league finishes in 4 of the last 8 seasons. We're no giants of English football by a long way but proper football people know Bolton Wanderers outshines Burnley by a mile.

Posted 18:33 7th January 2010

Alan Tompkins says...

No way Bolton are a bigger club than Burnley...they are on the same level. Bolton have just been lucky with having several managers who grind out results through long ball and defensive performances and as a neutral in this matter (canary fan) i'd rather watch Burnley play any day over Bolton....as for the Reebok...it's a horrible stadium to go to.

Posted 07:40 7th January 2010

Robbie Delgado (Sunderland fan) says...

Seems to be more popular than ever buying and selling (compensation) managers.. Sunderland did it with Bruce, Spurs with Redknapp. Before long Managers will be put on the transfer market lol Burnley will get someone to keep them up.. Bolton will stay up.. im picking Wolves and Hull to go down.. not sure who the third team will be.. Im just hoping Sunderland isnt in the "Survival Sunday" like last year lol

Posted 00:33 7th January 2010

Alan Molyneux says...

This is at best a sideways move for Coyle. As a Liverpool fan I've been impressed with the football Burnley have played this season, and in their wonderful Carling Cup run last season. Bolton are a team of long ball merchants, who kick and elbow the opposition, and only their own fans would be sad if they went down. I know Coyle has an emotional attachment to Bolton, but he's got one hell of a job to get them to play anything resembling good football. For your own sake Owen stay at Burnley.

Posted 23:25 6th January 2010

Des Pugh (Aston Villa fan) says...

Burnley fans should not be damning Owen Coyle as "JUDAS" they should be thankful that he got them to the premier league and should enjoy the rest of the season. Owen Coyle holds bolton close to his heart and i can understand where his coming from, He has a hard job to do at the reebok, and i will be impressed if bolton are a premier league team come may.

Posted 23:19 6th January 2010

Mark Stephen (Rangers fan) says...

I really have to disagree with David Stoke when he said there is no passion or excitement in the scottish game - have you ever been to an SPL game before? maybe you just cant hear it from your pub stool watching it on sky or espn. i often go to the Rangers away games, most recently against Hibs at Easter Road, and the atmosphere from both sets of fans was brilliant. The Following week we travelled to Celtic Park and there was 60,000 punters there, us Scots are more passionaite about football than the english, i tune into 606 on 5live every weekend and all i hear is moan moan moan. The old firm are bigger than bolton, and we could compete at premiership level.... unfortunetly we cant at the moment because, apart from phil gartside, the other clubs are too SCARED when we do better than the likes of stoke, hull, portsmouth etc, within 2/3 seasons we would be challenging for europe given the kind of budget clubs in the prem work from!!!

Posted 22:31 6th January 2010

Shaun Bell (Burnley fan) says...

I honestly thought he would not go.Thought he had integrity.More to this than meets the eye me thinks.Gartside has used Coyle to get the fans back on side.Believe they have free transport this weeked to the game.I'm sure if they asked he would do their washing and ironing in return for their attendance at the Reebok.As for our new manager,he won't have the same favourites as Coyle so ONWARDS and UPWARDS.

Posted 22:30 6th January 2010

Ian Lomax (Bolton Wanderers fan) says...

i feel sorry for burnley hes done well at a small club i do hope they stay up i can understand fans having a pop at bolton saying it a side ways step as they are fighting a religation battle bolton is a big club and proved that in the past with the crowds . the burnleys are preston are blackburns of this world couldnt touch us for crowd averages in the 60 /70s ect my first game as a young boy was 42 000 against luton town in the cup and 40 000 plus and that was when we was in the old third division i been on the old burnden park when the has been 50 00 plus and i have also been on when there has ben 4000 before megson come we was getting full house of 27 000 plus and had 20.000 season tickets holders megson was destroying this club thats why 7000 fans stoped going me in cluded the crowds will come back now and we will have a great atmosphere at the reebok with coyle here like to see all the lancashire clubs get in to the prem i hope burnley stay up i realy do but i dont think the will but any way good luck burnley x

Posted 20:50 6th January 2010

Paul Manniex (Bolton Wanderers fan) says...

To say that Burnley are on a par with Bolton is an insult (no offence meant to Burnley fans) If Burnley stay up for the next 7 to 8 years then by all means compare away. Also people state that Bolton's last 2 years has been dire and defensive football, which is absolutely true, what else can you expect under Megson, I for one am really happy he's gone and if Coyle can do the job for us that he's applied at Burnley then we will start to tecapture the form of the blessed Big Sam years. Out with the old and in with the Coyle.....Bring it on!!!!!

Posted 18:23 6th January 2010

John Mcglynn (Bolton Wanderers fan) says...

Well done owen coyle on joining the super whites. Ive read a few emails on here from bitter celtic and burnley fans. Why he didnt join celtic??? Scotland is a boaring league that only two teams ever win and all the other teams wouldnt hold there own in league two, Why leave burnley??? Bolton can offer him far more than burnley could ever dream of. plus we are an established prem team with the facilities to match. if i was a burnley fan i would not be two down because after all. Bolton,Burnley,Blackburn,Hull, etc were all the same??? we will never win the league and whenever we get decent talent in the big boys will always come along and take from us. AS IS LIFE

Posted 17:54 6th January 2010

Allan Entwistle (Burnley fan) says...

I think Owen Coyle has started to believe all tthe publicity about himself and his footballing principles. Got ideas above his station and basically shafted Burnley F.C. and its supporters. Talked a Good Talk but behind the scenes all about HIMSELF. Has handled this in a very poor manner. Anyway this club has been around longer than Owen Coyle so we move onwards. Gone from hero to Zero and its all his own doing im afraid! Cum on Burnley!!!!!

Posted 17:48 6th January 2010

Iain Baird says...

As a neutral to the story i feel Coyle has made a mistake, if he kept Burnley up he would have walked into a bigger job than Bolton and even if he hadnt would most likely have still got a PL job! Not sure who Burnley should appoint but what about Alan Curbishley or maybe even look at a younger manager again, maybe John Hughes at Hibs??

Posted 17:31 6th January 2010

Oli (wanderer fan) P (Bolton Wanderers fan) says...

Dont be too harsh on us Bolton fans. We secretly crave for the days of Andy Walker, McGinley and McAteer etc when we were cavalier giant killers. Even under big Sam we werent entirely happy. We are loyal to our team and have had a great away following for many years. Bolton's return from near extinction on a small budget has been an amazing story. Owen Coyle was a player in that story and the fans loved him. I dont think Owen wanted to tarnish his achievements at Burnley by taking them back down. If Bolton go down, he will not be blamed.

Posted 17:13 6th January 2010

Matt Christopher says...

as the dust settles on the news that god is actually leaving us i still struggle to understand WHY?. it must have been a massive decision for him. infact a life changing decision. 99% 0f the country are thinking thoughts that must have gone through his mind. why? is it a bigger club? can he do more at bolton than at burnley? there in the bottom 3!! . we need answers from owen that stack up but im afraid mr coyle that if they dont , the love and god like status we gave you will be a long lost memory ......

Posted 17:07 6th January 2010

Mickey Goodwin says...

i know owen coyle is a bit of a legend in bolton but i just think leaving burnley in the lurch half way through the season is a very dishonourable thing to do...however seeing as hes decided to go burnley need to start thinking of replacements...i think steve coppell..billy davies...ian holloway would all be good candidates for the job

Posted 17:03 6th January 2010

Malcolm Foster (Bolton Wanderers fan) says...

I am a Bolton fan,but I have been enjoyed watching Burnley's rise to the premier leaugue,plus they have played very entertaining football. You can see why Coyle wants to go to Bolton though - established premier league team (8yrs), Burnley have not managed 1 year yet, Bolton have established premier league players and plenty of interrnational players, there is a modern ground at the Reebok, he will have a mutch bigger budget at Bolton plus he probably will get paid more. He will have more chance of staying in the premier league with Bolton than Burnley. Burnley fans do not like Coyle going , but people do get transfers ie Allardyce to Newcastle, Anelka to Arsenal,Kevin Nolan to Newcastle. Bolton always lose their best players and managers eg Bruce Rioch to Arsenal. Coyle has not stopped anywhere very long and will no doubt move on from Bolton within 2 -3 yrs.Bolton will then have to get a new manager ,this is what happens in football I hope this transfer comes off because it is an excellent move for Bolton and he would do well for the club. Bolton have had it done on them plenty of times with other teams taking their best players and managers - it is what happens. When Bolton got promotion to the premier leaugue in the mid nineties they did not even manage to take their manager with them into the premier league. He left to manage Arsenal, more or less straight after the play off final.That was a bitter pill to swalllow- you have to get on with it. I am pretty sure Bolton would stay stay up with Coyle as manager. Good luck to Burnley but not at the Reeebok later this month.

Posted 15:52 6th January 2010

Andy Wyatt says...

I've had a great time wading through the different forums on this subject - it's quite amusing. As a Bolton supporter of over 30 years, watched my team home and away in all 4 divisions and seen managers come (poached or otherwise), succeed, get fired, walk away (Big Sam) or be lured away (Bruce Rioch) [remember that everyone - oh it seems we've conveniently forgotten about when Bolton was on the receiving end] I kind of think what goes around comes around. Why all the hate of Bolton from everyone outside of the town? A small minority of very vocal fans hounded Megson out of the job - I won't be hypocritical as I am glad he has gone, but I and the MAJORITY of Bolton fans always get behind the team regardless of how well they're doing. But hey, why let the truth get in the way of slagging off supporters of another club? I think it is genuinely great that we have so many clubs from Lancashire in the Premiership (and yes Burnley fans most true Boltonians think of themselves as Lancastrians - the postal boundary is an academic point) and I'd love to see Preston and Blackpool join the party and Burnley finding the right man to keep them up. Big Sam given time will sort Blackburn out - no doubts. I like all other true football supporters respect supporters of other clubs for several reasons. Few things annoy me more than driving through some city like Coventry and seeing people in Manchester United shirts walking down the street - (not picking on Coventry it is a problem everywhere)... Coming to Owen, he has his reasons for wanting to come to Bolton and he or may not make them public, we should just respect his opinion and wish him well. So come on everyone - please get some balance in your views and think twice before tarring ALL supporters and the club itself with a very unfair and unjustified brush!

Posted 15:00 6th January 2010

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