No shortage of candidates for top job

Nov 23 2007

SPECULATION is already gaining momentum as Saints chairman Geoff Brown contemplates candidates for the club’s 22nd manager.

As expected, Owen Coyle agreed a lucrative three and a half year deal with Burnley yesterday after leaving his Glasgow home at 5am to be paraded at Turf Moor. He is expected at Dens on Sunday for an emotional farewell to Perth staff after the game.

He takes over at a Championship side with cash to burn courtesy of billionaire property tycoon Brendan Flood, and with aspirations of gatecrashing the Premiership. Coyle’s salary will have soared beyond £200,000 after leaving Perth, with Saints negotiating a six-figure compensation deal after initially rebuffing Burnley’s opening gambit on Tuesday.

News of Burnley’s surprise interest in Coyle, tied-up at Perth until 2010, emerged in the Lancashire press after former Sunderland and Man City boss Peter Reid let the cat out of the bag, following an unsuccessful interview. Contacts at Bolton, where Coyle impressed as a player, and Scotland manager Alex McLeish provided glowing references.

Brown may opt for a younger manager rather than plucking one of the usual suspects – although highly respected Jim Duffy’s wealth of experience in Scotland and England will see him in the frame. The former Dundee and Hibs boss recently parted company with Norwich.

It’s the first time since Paul Sturrock left for Dundee United that there’s been no blood on the managerial floor.

Brown wants to take the club onto another level and a quick appointment before the December 1 trip to Partick is required for stability, with Kenny Deuchar and Rocco Quinn nearing the end of their loan deals.

Former striker Billy Dodds is another man with coaching experience and all-important contacts, but he has lucrative media commitments.

It’s easier to rule names out than in. As ever, when a vacancy arises, the Perth club is already being bombarded with applications, with former Hearts and Portsmouth boss Graham Rix quickly out of the traps along with Russell Latapy. Several ex-Saints would be interested but rest assured tabloid speculation will include everyone bar Jose Mourinho and Steve McClaren!

Brown said: “This is a desirable job and whoever gets it works with the best and easiest going chairman in Scottish football!

“I’ll be looking for enthusiasm and the same level of effort Owen put into the job here. Contacts are important in any walk of life but even more so in football.”

Brown made it clear he was infuriated by Burnley tapping his manager before speaking to the club but he stressed: “They approached the manager directly and that annoyed me. They also came in pleading poverty. But it is a great move for the manager and we couldn’t stand in his way. It’s just unfortunate that when you are a stepping stone you get dropped when a manager is doing his job properly. Owen was a great communicator at every level in the club.

“Fans might say we should have done more to keep Owen here but that was impossible given the spending power and profile of a team with aspirations of the Premiership. I remember Sturrock saying pretty average players were on six grand a week at that level. He has moved into a different pond.

“But we have parted amicably with Owen and hopefully he will be able to help us further down the line. He may have players, or spot players, who would interest us.”

After clinching the Burnley deal, Coyle told PA Sport: “I’ve had great times at Perth and had a wonderful relationship with Geoff Brown and Stewart Duff. I believe it was based on mutual respect. They kept me fully informed of everything that was happening. They had to do their best for the club and I had no problem with that.

“The signs are that the football club is progressing and obviously I wish the players and Sandy the very best for the Challenge Cup final. I just hope they give the Perth fans a day to remember.”

COYLE’S PERTH RECORD

Played 113, won 58, drew 29, lost 26, goals for 199, goals against 120.