Celtic went for Coyle 'within hour of win at Wembley'

Published on Thursday 18 June 2009 22:33

BURNLEY last night claimed Celtic approached the club "within an hour" of their momentous Wembley play-off win over Sheffield United to seek permission to talk to Owen Coyle about the managerial vacancy at Parkhead.

Coyle yesterday signed a two-year contract extension with the Barclays Premier League's newest team, meaning the Glasgow-born manager will remain at Turf Moor until 2013, and Burnley praised him for the loyalty he demonstrated to the club during Celtic's interest.

Burnley's operational director Brendan Flood said: "Owen had the sternest test of his commitment to the club as he was celebrating. Celtic's approach was within an hour of the win.

"It could not have been any tougher for him as they are from his home town and you have to be concerned when you are in our position.

"I knew it was going to be tempting. I also know he is genuine. He is a loyal guy and there had been lots of discussions about his contract before the match. It probably just needed the pink ribbon on it afterwards. The relationship we have between ourselves and Owen is one of the main reasons he is still here. There is a mutual loyalty."

The announcement that Gordon Strachan had resigned as Celtic manager was made during Burnley's 1-0 win over Sheffield United last month, and during the on-pitch celebrations at the end of 90 minutes at Wembley, Coyle found himself being confronted by a television reporter to be asked if he was interested in a vacancy he did not even know existed.

While admitting he was flattered to be linked with such a prestigious post, Coyle insisted that his only thought was preparing for life in the Premier League with Burnley, and he reinforced that point in an impromptu interview with Sky Sports News in the Burnley club car park 24 hours later.

The former Republic of Ireland international, who was a boyhood Celtic fan, stressed at the time: "It is people putting two and two together and getting five. I'm very much focused on what we are going to hope to do in the Premier League.

"It is an exciting challenge and one I am looking forward to. I'm as focused today as I was the first day I came into this job. I wanted to build this club and take it forward.

"What an exciting prospect to pit your wits against the best managers in world football with the best players and best teams – it's the best league in the world."

As Celtic turned towards Swansea City's Roberto Martinez and then West Bromwich Albion's Tony Mowbray in their search to fill the post vacated by Strachan, Coyle was away on holiday with his family, and he made it a priority on his return to sort out his future with Burnley.

After signing his contract extension yesterday, Coyle admitted yesterday the speculation linking him with Celtic had been an unwanted distraction at a time when Burnley should have been solely celebrating their return to the top-flight for the first time since 1976.

He said: "It did not help and maybe took a little bit of edge of things after our Wembley victory.

"We thoroughly enjoyed what we did. We knew how hard we worked to achieve our success.

"I was thinking about remaining in the Premier League and taking the club on, that was all. What we have to do now is move on and make sure we are ready for an exciting challenge."

Coyle revealed he had been negotiating with the board since the start of the year about a new deal.

"This has been going on for the best part of six months," he said. "We just had to ease off a bit because of our schedule at the end of the season.

"It was always going to come to fruition, it was always going to happen. We had agreed in principle what we were doing and I am glad it has been settled and we can now move on."

Coyle has been backed to become one of the top managers in the Premier League by Flood. "We have rediscovered why Burnley does well. We need people who are hard working, we need a good attitude – we do not want any prima donnas," he added. "Owen is from a good, working-class background. He identifies with the fans. He makes the fans feel proud of the club and he feels privileged to be the manager.

"We gave him a great opportunity, he has taken it with both hands and that has given him a chance to perform in the Premier League.

"We expect Owen to go on and show he can become a top-six manager. I think he will be."