New Wigan manager Owen Coyle denies he will make move for Kevin Davies

Davies is a free agent having been released by Bolton

Kevin Davies (GETTY IMAGES)

New Wigan manager Owen Coyle has ruled out the possibility of taking his former Bolton captain Kevin Davies to the DW Stadium.

Veteran striker Davies, 36, is looking for a new club after being released by Wigan's Championship rivals and neighbours after 10 years at the Reebok Stadium.

Coyle will now start to assess his new squad but was not willing to discuss targets as he was formally unveiled by Latics chairman Dave Whelan and chief executive Jonathan Jackson.

Coyle, who was sacked by Bolton last October, said: "Kevin was my skipper and an outstanding player.

"It would be remiss of me to mention individual players but he is a good lad.

"I think there is a bit of interest in Kevin but it is probably not what we are looking to bring into the football club although he is an outstanding man."

Coyle accepts one of his first tasks may be to stave off interest from other clubs in Latics' better players.

Midfielder James McCarthy and forwards Callum McManaman and Arouna Kone have been the subject of speculation. Maynor Figueroa has already left for Hull on a free transfer.

Coyle said: "We don't, as a football club, want to sell anybody or have to sell anybody but we understand how football works and when you have got very talented players there will always be interest.

"That just goes part and parcel with the game."

Coyle takes over a club in an unusual position having won the FA Cup last month but still coming to terms with relegation and the loss of popular manager Roberto Martinez to Everton.

Wigan will also play in the Europa League next season but Coyle accepts winning promotion back to the Barclays Premier League has to be top priority.

Coyle has previous experience of winning promotion to the top flight with Burnley but after moving to Bolton in 2010 and saving them from relegation, he was unable to prevent their slide down last year.

The 46-year-old said: "We put ourselves under pressure every day because we want to be the best we can be.

"Everybody wants to be involved at the very highest level.

"I have been to various countries watching games - German football was outstanding last year, and the Spanish teams - but for entertainment and passion the English Premier League is still the best in the world. That is where everyone wants to be.

"We've got an opportunity next year if we perform to our maximum and get to our level, that we can get back to that. That is what I'll be striving to do.

"If that puts me under pressure, then so be it."

PA