It has been revealed that Wigan manager Owen Coyle has a clause in his contract, which would see him leave the English Championship side if the Celtic manager’s job becomes available.
Dave Whelan, Wigan’s chairman, who appointed Coyle as manager was commenting on questions posed to him about the Republic of Ireland job and if the FAI could approach the former Bolton manager as a successor to Trappatoni.
However, Whelan stated: “One thing [Owen] said to me when I gave him the job was ‘If Celtic ever come in I want the job at Celtic’. That’s one thing I respect.”
News of Coyle’s ‘Celtic clause’ should not really have an impact on current Celtic manager Neil Lennon as he just signed a new deal with the Parkhead side last month.
Speaking after signing his new one year rolling contract, Lennon said: “The club have looked after me very well from the day I walked in as a player. I’ve got a good contract and good backing. I’ll always feel that way while I’m in that job that I owe people something, whether it’s the people who employ me, the supporters or the players I bring in.
“I’ll always feel I’ve got a responsibility to someone. I won’t ever feel that I’ve done it all and I don’t need to give anything back. I always want to give. So that’s why the last few days have been difficult. That was hard to take and I want nothing more than to succeed.”
Coyle had been approached by Celtic after Gordon Strachan resigned as Celtic manager in 2009, however the then-Burnley manager decided to take the English side into the English Premier League after winning promotion.
