Bolton confirm Coyle

Former striker returns to the Reebok Stadium as manager

By Chris Burton   Last updated: 8th January 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Bolton confirm Coyle

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Bolton have confirmed the appointment of Owen Coyle as their new manager on a two-and-a-half-year contract.

The highly-rated Scot was installed as favourite to take the Reebok Stadium hot-seat shortly after the Trotters parted with former coach Gary Megson.

Having enjoyed a productive two-year spell with the club during his playing days, Coyle's close ties with Bolton marked him out as an ideal candidate.

Bolton's endeavours to bring him back to the club were not straightforward, though, with Coyle under contract at Premier League rivals Burnley.

The Clarets were understandably reluctant to part with the man who helped to guide them into the top flight last term and did all they could to convince him to stay.

However, once Coyle made it clear that he wanted out, there was little they could do to stand in his way.

A switch to Bolton has therefore been on the cards for some time, with a compensation package all that stood in the way of a deal being completed.

Motivator

An agreement has now been reached between the two clubs and Coyle will take charge of the Trotters for the first time when Arsenal arrive in the North West on 17th January.

"It's been a long, drawn-out week," chairman Phil Gartside admitted on Sky Sports News.

"Owen was the only one on the list. I'd got a list of 30 names but the only one we wanted was Owen. We haven't interviewed anyone, we haven't contacted anyone. It was just Owen that we wanted."

As for what makes Coyle special, Gartside added: "It's his desire. He had to come back here, really.

"He's well known to the place, he came through an era which was special to everybody, including me. Bruce Rioch revitalised Bolton in the early 90s. That three-year period was special and Owen was part of that.

"He is infectious. He still is infectious, even more so than before."

Coyle added: "I'm absolutely delighted to be back at Bolton Wanderers.

"I look forward to the opportunity of bringing the good times back to the club for everyone."

Bolton currently sit 18th in the Premier League table and have managed only one win in their last nine top flight outings.

Comments (19)

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Daren Maiden (Blackburn Rovers fan) says...

This shows that there is only fan loyalty to your club ,football is a business and money is the only ruler ,burnley players need to show loyalty as for sure he will look to buy from turf moor .Cant help thinking that this is a sideways move for coyle as bolton have debts and are only the size of club ,from which he has left .He is now hated in burnley more than a rovers fan!

Posted 20:29 8th January 2010

Bob Johnson (Manchester United fan) says...

Be warned Bolton fans when the next club comes calling with more money he will leave you as he left Burnley and that will be justice.

Posted 20:28 8th January 2010

David Hollinshead (Southampton fan) says...

Gutted for Burnley Fans. Burnley's success has been a genuine success against the backdrop of the usual Premiership money-go-round. Owen has given up any chance of genuine success, he could have left after a season or two and no-one would have blinked. Leaving a team in this situation is unforgivable. I hope that you stay up.

Posted 20:14 8th January 2010

Richard Scoffield (Burnley fan) says...

Legend - 12 goals in 54 games. You must be easily pleased in Bolton then. I don't know of many clubs who would describe a striker in those terms having scored 12 goals!

Posted 20:07 8th January 2010

Jason Carhart (Liverpool fan) says...

Owen Coyle brought an entertaining style of football to Burnley after getting his players to work his way, how do Bolton fans expect him to do the same with them straight off the bat with the players they have in their squad. Good luck to the Trotters but seriously I think it's a huge mistake for both Bolton & Coyle. I expect championship football at the Reebok next season.

Posted 20:06 8th January 2010

Richard Bapty (Leeds United fan) says...

I would like to say how much of a disgrace it is that Owen Coyle is leaving Burnley. First of all look at the club he is leaving for! No disrespect to Bolton fans but it is not like Owen is leaving for Spurs, Man City or Villa. He is leaving for a club that are 18th in the table, 4 places below Burnley and 2 points behind. Secondly I cannot believe he is leaving half way through the season when the club probably need him more than ever, it will be easy for Burnley to go into free-fall now and I wonder how Owen will feel if Burnley end up being relegated whilst Bolton just avoid relegation? I feel sorry for Burnley fans, teams with passionate fans like yours don¿t deserve being left high and dry. It would be very bittersweet if Burnley end up staying up whilst Bolton go down! Good luck Burnley.

Posted 20:04 8th January 2010

Daniel Lord (Burnley fan) says...

Two & a half year deal!! Theres one thing for sure Gartside defo looked at his CV!! Even Judas wont be able to lie about that!! Are you going to last more than your contract because your playing and managerial career doesn't say so!! Good Luck Owen, thanks for the memories, but you have a job to do at your BIG club.The pressure is now on.... that 44 million debt wont be very healthy if your in the championship!! Nervous Times!!

Posted 20:03 8th January 2010

Paul Walmsley (Bolton Wanderers fan) says...

Gavin - his last name is Coyle without the "s". Sorry that your manager has jumped ship but he is doing what all smart people do and go where there is greater opportunity. Judas is wholly inappropriate because he didn't betray you, he simply took a better (in his mind) opportunity. You should be thankful and wish him well. We lost Big Sam to Newcastle, you lost Owen to Bolton. Get over it - the players haven't changed only the coach.

Posted 20:03 8th January 2010

Liam Currie (Bolton Wanderers fan) says...

Great news for Bolton and for us fans, as for all the Burnley fans moaning, Ithink they just need to get on with it, The same thing happend to us with Big Sam when he left to go to Newcastle, Its football and these things happen!!!!! BOLTON TO FINISH IN THE TOP HALF!!!!!

Posted 20:03 8th January 2010

Karl Attisha (Hull City fan) says...

While I understand why people move on in their careers I feel for the Burnley fans. Owen Coyle has done a great job in getting Burnley to the Premiership but surely the club deserved a bit more time to see what could be achieved once their Premiership status was guaranteed Are Bolton any bigger I'm not sure they are ? Was the move about money or does he consider this his spiritual home ? Phil Brown was also being touted for the Bolton job and here is a man under pressure but he did the right thing and distanced himself from the job just as he did when he was put into the frame for the Sunderland job last season. A move to a new club would effectively wipe the slate clean for him but he has the loyalty to finish the job off and not move on when things get tough. What has happened to loyalty and to repaying the faith that the club, board and fans have put in you ?

Posted 20:01 8th January 2010

Kingsley Nwagboso (Bolton Wanderers fan) says...

excellent news now coyle can sort the quad out and get in a stable position in the league

Posted 18:57 8th January 2010

Alex Burke (Bolton Wanderers fan) says...

A good appointment for the fans and I think will make a difference to the team. I am a little worried that at the moment coyle is riding the first season in the premiership high so we have not really seen the true manager skills (look at phil brown, great first season but now struggling) but if he can bring a more attractive style of football then things will definitly look up at Bolton, both on and off the field

Posted 18:51 8th January 2010

Gavin Grimshaw says...

hope they sack you when you take them down, you have left a bitter taste in every clarets mouth after leaving a job half done, you may aswell left us when we were a championship side, and as for your quote on the good times back at bolton, when were they then, you spent just over 2 years there and call it home, judas, simple as, money grabbing just like the rest.

Posted 18:32 8th January 2010

Garry Taylor (Bolton Wanderers fan) says...

Excellent news... about time too!! I'm happy Coyle has come home to get us out of trouble. Hard lines Burnley - I hope you get someone decent in to keep yous up... Megson's always available if you want??

Posted 18:28 8th January 2010

Rob Heyes (Bolton Wanderers fan) says...

Fantastic news for the whites after 2 years of megson, Coyle will lead us back into europe defo the right man to take on the job full house against arsenal for his homecoming come on you white men. BWFC

Posted 18:25 8th January 2010

Greg Finlay (Manchester United fan) says...

I am a Man united fan but I am still shocked about the new Bolton appointment, Owen Coyles. I think it is unloyal to the Burnley fans and it is just a big shock. My sympathy goes to the Burnley fans as he was a true manager and he knows what he was doing, as he proved that by getting Burnley promoted.

Posted 18:02 8th January 2010

Craig Mellett (Bolton Wanderers fan) says...

After all the misery and boring football have been made to watch, i can now finally (AGAIN) say im proud to be a bolton fan, if im honest under gary megson i was ashamed and embarrased by the way the team was being managed, negative tactics and total lack of respect for the fans. GOOD TIMES are coming back to bolton. Mr gartside this has been the best bit of buisness you have done since appointing allardyce, lee and megson were mistakes. bring it on owen coyles super white army

Posted 17:36 8th January 2010

Andy Vickers (Bolton Wanderers fan) says...

This is great for Bolton Wanderers, True he only played for the whites for 2 and a bit years! but he is a true legend at the club! his goals made history for the whites! we all remember, play off's against Reading, and the cup goals!! Up the whites, and well done Bolton for listening to the fans............. Good luck super Coyle

Posted 17:30 8th January 2010

Jayjay Worrall (Bolton Wanderers fan) says...

Owen Coyle, Owen Coyle, Owen Owen Coyle, He gets the ball and scores a goal, Owen Owen Coyle!!!!!!!! Super Owen Coyle. The legend has come home back where he belongs! COYWM

Posted 17:12 8th January 2010
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