TOP 100 SOCCER SITES
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| Fragile Fernando Torres still vital to Liverpool's revival plan Rafael Benítez believes Fernando Torres can survive the busy Christmas period without further injury troubles telegraph.co.uk |
Delighted Bolton welcome Coyle home • Reebok chairman Phil Gartside gets his No1 target for job• First game in charge will be against Arsenal on 17 JanuaryOwen Coyle was finally confirmed as the new manager of Bolton Wanderers late this 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 £3m for the loss of his services and Bolton wanting to pay nearer £1m, 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 yesterday due to adverse weather. 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 No1 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. On behalf of everyone at Bolton I'd like to welcome him home."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 today suggested that Bolton's higher budget for salaries and transfers may not prove quite as attractive as it seems. "I told Owen they have £44m 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've got a great rapport with the people here. I'm not going anywhere."Owen CoyleBolton WanderersBurnleyPremier LeagueLouise Taylorguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Global Soccer: Maradona's Task: Harmony From Chaos For Argentina to be successful at the World Cup, Diego Maradona must find a way to make sense of the abundant talent at his disposal. feeds.nytimes.com |
Derby County 1 Doncaster Rovers 0: match report A superb strike from substitute Jay McEveley with a minute left gave Derby County a late victory at Pride Park. telegraph.co.uk |
Spurs Tighten Grip on 4th in England Tottenham Hotspur strengthened its grip on fourth place in the English Premier League as it ended a recent run of poor results by beating Fulham while Liverpool drew at Wolverhampton. feeds.nytimes.com |