Lennon: "Owen Coyle Told Me to Take the Bolton Job"

In conversation with the BEN, new Bolton Wanderers manager Neil Lennon has paid tribute to ex-Whites boss Owen Coyle, who played a small but key role in convincing the Northern Irishman to go for the job.

Lennon said:

"I spoke to Owen Coyle before I was even offered the job two weeks ago,"

"Owen talked about his previous experiences with Bolton and he had nothing but positive things to say about the club.

"He loved it and said it was a fantastic club and he would go back in a heartbeat."

Nice to hear that Coyle, who left the club in 2012 to be succeeded by Dougie Freedman, still thinks well of him time at the club. It has since been reported that the conversation took place when both were working on Irish TV.

Lennon and Coyle crossed paths when the ex-Wanderers striker was playing in the SPL for St Johnstone. He was touted for the Celtic job before Lennon took over following the dismissal of Tony Mowbray.