Eagles amused by Coyle jeers

Eagles: Grateful to Coyle

Chris Eagles has admitted he owes a lot to Owen Coyle, but was still amused by the way Burnley fans treated their former manager at Turf Moor on Tuesday.

Coyle left the Clarets to take charge of Bolton halfway through last season and endured a hostile reception as he returned to the club for a Carling Cup tie, which Burnley won 1-0.

Eagles recognises that the fans are still angry about Coyle's departure and engaged in a spot of good-humoured banter with the manager himself on the touchline.

But the 24-year-old does not have a bad word to say about his old boss because Coyle helped him to develop as a player.

"I have never experienced all that anger towards one person before," said Eagles.

"It was expected because there had been rumours around town. But when I actually heard the stick Owen was getting, it was quite funny.

"I was having a bit of banter with him at the side myself but it was all good fun.

"Owen has done a lot for the club and for me personally. He brought me to the place and then had the faith to play me.

"I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for him, so I will always have respect for him, just like I do with Sir Alex Ferguson, and I wish him all the best in the future."

Eagles joined Burnley from Manchester United in 2008 and there is one team he would choose to play in the next round of the Carling Cup ahead of any other.

"It would still be a good draw now because they are a special club to me," he said.

"But our main aim is to get back up to the Premier League. That is what we have to concentrate on."

Easy decision

Eagles was linked with a move away from Burnley during the summer before putting pen to paper on a new two-year deal and he insists there are no regrets.

"The decision to stay was not hard at all," he explained.

"It would have been harder to leave. That is why I didn't.

"It just didn't feel right. I can't explain it. My mum brought me up to play with a smile on my face.

"I would play for nothing but if I am not happy what is the point?

"Thankfully, the fans stuck with me. When the season started and there were all these rumours my head was all over the place.

"But I am settled now and need to thank Brian Laws for having enough faith in me to push (operational director) Brendan Flood for my contract, so I could start again and prove what I could do."