Burnley announce Davis as caretaker manager

Coyle is set to join Bolton (GETTY IMAGES)

Burnley are preparing for life after Owen Coyle as coach Steve Davis has been named caretaker manager for the Barclays Premier League match against Stoke on Saturday.

Davis will take the reins with the support of goalkeeping coach Phil Hughes with Coyle set to become Bolton's manager.

Burnley chairman Barry Kilby said: "The backroom staff will take the team on Saturday and Steve will be in charge."

Lawyers from both clubs are currently working on a compensation deal for Coyle, who has expressed a wish to leave Turf Moor.

Although compensation has still to be agreed, Coyle came in yesterday and said goodbye to the staff at Burnley.

Kilby could not hide his disappointment at the Glasgow-born boss opting to move to their Lancashire rivals.

He said: "We are all grown men and know how football works but it was quite emotional when Owen left.

"He has a big affection for this club, there is no doubt about that. It has been a fabulous two years.

"I fully expected when he did move it would be upwards, not sideways to a club we are fighting a relegation scrap with. We were surprised.

"But I have been in football long enough to know these things happen and I don't think Owen took this decision lightly.

"It was with regret that he went and he did say to me there was only Celtic or Bolton he would leave Burnley for. But it has come at a bad time, that is for sure."

Kilby is now keen to get a new man in place sooner rather than later.

He added: "We have got to get going. Let's put this behind us and make sure we stay in this Premier League.

"We have to see who is out there. We need to get this one sorted out as soon as we can."

Burnley will travel to Bolton on January 26 with relationships strained between the clubs over Coyle.

Kilby said: "I don't think we (the clubs) are best of pals at the moment. It did come at a bad time and it was an unwelcome approach.

"Owen felt Bolton do have a larger player budget than we have and it was his best way of remaining a Premier League manager, working with a budget of that size.

"It's been a trauma for the football club. None of us wanted Owen to go. It was a shock when all this broke."