Burnley told to dig deep for manager Coyle
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Your support makes all the difference.St Johnstone's managing director, Stewart Duff, has admitted that the club will allow their manager, Owen Coyle, to join Burnley – but only if the Turf Moor club meet their compensation demands.
Saints are believed to want around £150,000 for the former Bolton Wanderers, Dundee United and Motherwell striker but the Championship side offered significantly below that figure when they approached St Johnstone yesterday.
Burnley had hoped to name Coyle as their new manager yesterday, but their plans stalled when Saints refused them permission to speak to Coyle until compensation had been concluded.
Duff has long feared bigger clubs would come calling and, after seeing his manager linked with Motherwell and Inverness in recent months, insists the Scottish First Division club are entitled to a sizeable fee.
He said: "Their chairman phoned mid-morning to ask for permission to speak to Owen but we felt it more appropriate to agree compensation between the clubs first, rather than allow the manager to go down, possibly agree terms and then find we couldn't agree with Burnley.
"The figure they came up with was far below what we feel is proper. They have said their offer is on the table but we've declined it and the ball is now back in their court. We recognise that Owen will leave St Johnstone Football Club to better himself and we won't deny him that opportunity.
"But we do feel Owen has a value to St Johnstone and that value should be recognised by any clubs who want to take him on – just like a transfer fee for a player. So, unless we reach an agreement on what we see as a fair value he will be staying here and we'll be delighted if that's the case.
Veteran midfielder Paul Sheerin last night admitted that players at the Perth club are all but resigned to losing Coyle ahead of Sunday's Challenge Cup final.
He said: "If a Championship club like Burnley want him the gaffer would be crazy not to think seriously about a move.
"I know we have a cup final coming up against Dunfermline but no one here would accuse him of jumping ship. It would be a huge opportunity for him. If he goes we will wish him all the best and thank him for what he has done for us and the football club.
"Any player would jump at the chance of playing in England and there should be more money to spend at a Championship club than he would get in Scotland.
"Saints were third bottom when he came here and he has transformed the club. He was linked with various jobs in Scotland last season so it doesn't surprise me that he's in demand again."
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