ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE:OWEN COYLE was finally confirmed as the new manager of Bolton Wanderers yesterday afternoon when the resolution of a compensation wrangle finalised his exit from Burnley. "I'm absolutely delighted to be back at Bolton," said Coyle, who played for the club during the mid-1990s. "I look forward to bringing the good times back."
With Burnley demanding €3.3 million for the loss of his services and Bolton wanting to pay nearer €1.1 million, lawyers representing the Lancashire rivals had some serious negotiating to do as the former striker was placed on gardening leave after quitting Turf Moor on Tuesday.
While the eventual compensation deal left him free to start his new job, Coyle’s debut in Bolton’s dug-out was delayed by the postponement of their game at Sunderland today. Instead of travelling to Wearside, the 43-year-old had to be content with touring his new domain yesterday when he was shown around the Reebok Stadium and Bolton’s training ground. His first match in charge is now scheduled to be the televised Premier League fixture at home to Arsenal next Sunday.
A delighted Phil Gartside, Bolton’s chairman, said: “Owen was our number one target and we are naturally delighted he has returned to the club as manager. He was an inspirational player who leads by example and is a great motivator. ”
Unsurprisingly, Coyle’s departure has left a trail of bitterness at Burnley. Barry Kilby, their disappointed chairman, clearly feels Coyle had his head turned by Gartside’s overtures and yesterday suggested that Bolton’s higher budget for salaries and transfers may not prove quite as attractive as it seems. “I told Owen they have €48 million of bank debt but we have none,” Kilby said.
“I think Bolton can say a lot of tempting things to attract Owen Coyle but whether they can deliver on them I think history will tell. But Owen wanted to work with a bigger budget and he obviously felt they had a better chance of staying up than Burnley. Owen’s mindset is that he doesn’t want to risk being in the Championship.”
The immediate aim of the Turf Moor board is to appoint a new manager capable of sustaining Premier League football. Kilby remains keen on Simon Grayson but the Leeds manager is committed to staying at Elland Road. Another potential contender, the Norwich manager, Paul Lambert, distanced himself from suggestions that he might succeed Coyle, after bookmakers in the Bolton and Glasgow areas reported a rush of bets on him. Lambert said: “I love it here at Carrow Road. I’m not going anywhere.”
- Guardian Service
