Mortal Coyle

Sports Writer

Wednesday 10 October 2012

THOSE who know Owen Coyle best frequently say his finest gift as a manager is his natural enthusiasm and unforced passion for the game.

Owen Coyle's sacking did not come as a real surprise. Picture: Dave Howorth/PA

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Stewart Fisher

For pretty much the first time in the 46-year-old's managerial career, such traits really will be put to good use this morning.

The graph of Coyle's career generally has only ever headed skyward but his friends and football acquaintances stood by their man last night after he was sacked by Bolton Wanderers.

The Glaswegian, who had been in charge at the Lancashire club since January 2010, was dismissed by owner Eddie Davis and chairman Phil Gartside in recognition of a spell in which the club has slumped to 18th place in the npower Championship, with just three league wins so far this season.The news didn't exactly come as a surprise to the club's supporters – relations had been fractious at times and there had been a falling out with the club's talisman Kevin Davies over a change to the style of play – but it was further proof that football can be a fickle old business.It wasn't so long ago that Coyle – a master of astute loan signings such as Vladimir Weiss, Jack Wilshere and Daniel Sturridge – was leading the club to an FA Cup semi-final and earning huge kudos for the way he dealt with the near-death experience suffered by Fabrice Muamba. Indeed, were it not for Coyle's loyalty to his newly promoted Burnley side in 2009, Coyle could currently be Celtic manager.John Hughes, the man alongside whom Coyle cut his managerial teeth at Falkirk, said he had already reached out to console his pal and felt the sacking was unjust. Coyle was forced to sell centre-half Gary Cahill to Chelsea last season and found his qualities difficult to replace."It is football's loss," said the Livingston manager. "Owen is a wonderful guy with natural enthusiasm who knows the game like the back of his hand. I think he has done a wonderful job at Bolton. Being in the game, I know the money he had to cut from the wage bill and the burden that put on him. I texted him this morning and said 'Don't worry, Owen, you will get back in the game ASAP'."Ill-luck certainly had a hand in the Glaswegian's downfall. It had taken until the lottery of the last day of last season for Bolton's relegation to be confirmed following a 2-2 draw at Stoke City and even last week Chris Eagles missed a penalty during their 2-1 defeat to Millwall which could have saved him. Hughes feels it will not be long before Coyle graces the Barclays Premier League once more. "That is the fine line that managers work on," Hughes said. "But whoever gets Owen next is getting a proper football manager, and I think a Premier League club isn't beyond him."Geoff Brown, Coyle's old chairman at St Johnstone, where he worked wonders in the cups and largely built the team which Derek McInnes took to the SPL, says a fresh start could be a boon. "He is a buoyant guy, and he is not going to sit around, that is for certain," said Brown. "He has great enthusiasm and a new challenge to him might be a good thing. "Wherever he goes, his enthusiasm will rub off on others. There is always a danger that enthusiasm wears off to a degree and he doesn't get that same effect from the players he has got. "I am afraid this tends to go with relegated clubs, it is the nature of the business," he added. "Obviously, the board down there believed they should be riding high in the Championship, and maybe didn't believe they were getting value for money. "It is a shame, but Owen got a million when he went to Bolton, another million for keeping them up, so he is not poor. He did as good a job as he could possibly do for Bolton, but unfortunately, his time's up."Typically, the manner of Coyle's leaving befitted the man. There was a refusal to gild the lily. "When the decision was made, the chairman said we could dress this up whichever way we wanted it, mutual consent or whatever," he said. "But the truth be told, and I've always called it as it is, they have decided to get rid of me and that is what it is. I wish them nothing but the best. "Phil Gartside is not only my chairman but someone I hold very dear, and that will never change. I was ready and my staff were to continue scrapping and fighting for everything we were building here at Bolton Wanderers. But the decision has been made and I move on now."In the short term, Jimmy Phillips, the former Rangers player who is the club's academy manager, and Sammy Lee will take charge of the first team, with Alex McLeish one of the early favourites to replace him longer term. Coincidentally, the club's next match is against Bristol City and the man who replaced him in Perth, McInnes.

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