Clarets boss Owen Coyle has been speaking about his time at Burnley in the lead-up to the second anniversary of his tenure at Turf Moor and his decision to release top-scorer Andy Gray.
Gray left for Charlton Athletic in Coyle’s first January transfer window and the Scot claims it was the first moment at the club in which he had to make a major decision in terms of his playing staff.
Speaking to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph he explained: “I’d only been in the job six weeks but I was on the verge of losing our top scorer.
"But I took myself into a zone, as I do with these things, and decided it was okay.
"There was a player that didn’t want to play for me, so I told Brendan and the chairman to let me handle it and I’d get the best deal possible.
“Within that time I was looking elsewhere and I was able to get Andy Cole in on loan from Sunderland for the same salary that Andy Gray was earning.
“I had a truly gifted player - a man who’s a legend, a goalscorer and a Champions League player. He was a top class player and a top class man, and he had such an impact on the training ground.
“He still passed the ball like a Champions League player, and from 30 yards to goal he was unbelievable.
“Then from the summer we looked to bring the club on."
Kirkland leaves Wigan Athletic with heavy heart
(Wed 23/05)
Blackburn Rovers target Ki focused on Celtic
(Wed 23/05)
Post a comment