Owen Coyle believes the lack of fear at Bolton has helped the squad progress this season.
Trotters boss determined not to get carried away at Reebok
Owen Coyle believes the lack of fear at Bolton has helped the squad progress in the Premier League this season.
The Trotters boss has been pleased with the rave reviews his side have received with Wanderers sitting in eighth spot, just three points adrift of Tottenham in fifth place.
Coyle inherited a side sitting third bottom of the league in January, but the Scot has transformed a club whose fans were dissatisfied under former boss Gary Megson.
The former Burnley boss is reluctant to criticise his predecessor and equally determined not to get carried away by the best start to a league season in four years.
"You're obviously pleased when you're in a decent position but that's all it is," Coyle told the
Bolton Evening News.
Fear factor
"The one thing we've tried to do from the start is take that so-called 'fear factor' out of it.
"When we came in, we all accept there was an element of fear because we were in the bottom three.
"We were low on confidence and everything that goes with it - so we had to try and take that out of the equation.
"It's nothing against what went before, because everyone has different ways of working and different things they want to put into training but in terms of how I go about it.
"I want players to come in with a smile on their face and make sure they're enjoying it.
"If they can, I've got a chance of getting them at their maximum on a Saturday by taking on board what we want to do."
No targets
Coyle insists he hopes to remain at the Reebok for the long term as he aims to finish rebuilding the squad.
The manager is currently setting no targets other than to improve on last season's 14th placed finish.
"We're nowhere near where we want to be, but it'll take a number of things to change that," he said.
"The biggest is that which all us managers crave, and that's time.
"You can come in and get an instant reaction, but you've got to try and sustain that and look to improve every area of your team and your football club.
"I would hope that everywhere I have been, I have always looked to improve each area of that club. It's no different here.
"We accept that we're not one of the big, major elite clubs but we have a tremendous history and a great pedigree, so there's no reason why we shouldn't strive to improve.
"That's got to be your aim, accepting that it's not always possible because you've got 20 managers in the league all looking to do that - someone's got to finish bottom and someone's got to finish fifth etc.
"It doesn't make people bad managers, it's sometimes just a number of circumstances."
