Boss Coyle plays down Bolton move

Burnley boss Coyle was linked with the Celtic manager's job last summer

Burnley manager Owen Coyle has joined Bolton assistant Chris Evans in playing down speculation linking him with the vacant manager's post at the Reebok.

Former Wanderers star Coyle was suggested as a possible candidate for the job after Gary Megson's dismissal.

But Coyle, who was linked with Celtic in May, said: "It is a fantastic job for someone but my focus is on doing the best against MK Dons this weekend.

"I've had speculation time and again but I'll focus on the job in hand."

Coyle, a former Republic of Ireland international, played for Bolton between 1993 and 1995 and has previously described the club as "very close to my heart".

But the 43-year-old insisted he was happy at Burnley, with whom he signed a three-year contract when he took over in November 2007 with the club mid-table in the Championship.

"I feel very privileged to be manager of a wonderful football club," he said.

"I think the players enjoy working for me, the fans like coming and we are trying to build something here."

Megson, 50, was sacked on Wednesday following Tuesday's 2-2 draw with Hull during which he was booed by sections of the Bolton crowd, frustrated at their position third from bottom of the Premier League.

In his absence, assistant boss Evans and first team coach Steve Wigley will initially take charge of the side, beginning with the FA Cup third-round tie against Lincoln City on Saturday.

Former Wolves academy chief Evans, who was recruited as assistant manager by Megson two years ago, insisted he would not be applying for the job on a permanent basis.

"I have no intention of being the manager of Bolton Wanderers," he said.

"I am surprised to be in this position. Gary called me yesterday with the news.

"I am disappointed as well as he gave me an opportunity to come here. But the decision was made by people above us.

606: DEBATE For what it's worth my choice would be Alan Curbishley Chowbent-Trotter

"The issues with regards to the fans does not help. But now is the time to look forward.

"The remit we have is that we act in the best interests of the club until a new manager comes in so we are well prepared for each game."

Former Manchester City boss Mark Hughes, Stoke assistant boss Peter Reid, former Peterborough coach Darren Ferguson, ex-Wigan manager Paul Jewell and former West Ham boss Alan Curbishley have also been suggested as possible candidates.

Megson took over from Sammy Lee at Bolton in October 2007, lifting the club out of relegation danger to finish 16th in his first season and guiding the club to a 13th-place finish in his only full campaign with the club in 2008-09.

He admitted he was deeply disappointed to leave, but said his dismissal was understandable, though he insisted his performance had been satisfactory.

"Despite all the stick I seem to have been getting from Bolton fans, I've been delighted that my peers and people who know football seem to say that it's gone OK since I've been there," he said.

Megson attracted boos from sections of the Bolton crowd on Tuesday

"I don't want to comment on the spectators. There are 10 clubs in a battle at the bottom of the table, but the other nine aren't having to operate under the same conditions and circumstances we were.

"I'm bitterly disappointed to lose my job, but I don't think the decision is unfair. They've made it in the best interests for the club.

"The club has made the decision and I have to accept it. You stand or fall by those decisions, but I hope Bolton can stay up."

Lee's predecessor Sam Allardyce, who was at the helm at the Reebok Stadium for eight years, admitted Megson was always struggling in the face of hostile sections of the Bolton support.

"Unfortunately for Gary, the fans wouldn't quite take to him - they didn't quite endear themselves to him and they always felt there was something they disagreed with, no matter what he seemed to do," he said.

"I always think that's a very unfortunate situation because in the end, if your fans decide that they don't like you then you've got very little chance of keeping your job, no matter how good you are."

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