West Brom boss is busy planning for the future despite Celtic rumours

May 29 2009 by Chris Lepkowski

"As the board has done in recent years, through the appointment of Martin O’Neill and Gordon Strachan, we aim to appoint a manager who will bring continued success to the club."

Owen Coyle's future remains a mystery, despite posturing from Burnley's board that he is ready to commit his future to the Turf Moor club.

Coyle was interviewed yesterday but gave a far from convincing interview, where he never ruled himself out of the running for the Celtic job.

Yet Burnley chairman Barry Kilby claims Coyle is 'very close' to extending his stay.

He said: "Owen is contracted to Burnley for another two years and we are deep into negotiations for a two-year extension to that contract.

"There are still some things to iron out, but they are minor things and I fully expect it to be signed in the very near future.

"Both of us have been a little annoyed with all this unwelcome speculation because it has been a distraction we could do without.

"The Glasgow press have been stoking this up and it is very unwelcome.

"All along we haven’t had any communication from Celtic or anyone else, so as far as I am concerned he is our manager and happy where he is."