Owen Coyle close to agreeing new deal, claims Burnley chairman

• Two-year extension on table for manager wanted by Celtic
• 'I fully expect it to be signed in the near future', says Kilby

Burnley's chairman, Barry Kilby, has said that Owen Coyle, who has turned down the chance to take over at Celtic, is "very close" to agreeing a two-year extension to his contract as the club's manager.

Coyle still has two years of his deal to run at Turf Moor. But Kilby indicated that the manager was set to sign a new deal soon, having steered the club into the Premier League after a 33-year top-flight absence with a 1-0 victory over Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final at Wembley on Monday.

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

"Obviously negotiations have been suspended for a while during the play-offs but we are talking about another two years on top of his existing deal and we are very close. 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."

Coyle has rejected the chance to move to Celtic for financial and family reasons. He had earlier distanced himself from the Celtic job, having emerged as the Glasgow club's preferred choice to succeed Gordon Strachan. The move hit difficulties yesterday.

The Scottish-born former Republic of Ireland international was a boyhood Celtic supporter but he insists he is concentrating solely on Burnley. "I'm very much focused on what we are going to hope to do in the Premier League," he said. "It is an exciting challenge and one I am looking forward to. I think the fans know the rapport I have with this football club. We think we have an exciting prospect and challenge ahead of us and we want that to continue.

"I'm as focused today as I was the first day I came into this job. I wanted to build this club and take it forward. What an exciting prospect to pit your wits against the best managers in world football with the best players and best teams – it's the best league in the world."

Coyle, the former Airdrie and Bolton striker, has made a huge impression at Turf Moor since leaving St Johnstone to take charge in November 2007. He is already planning for next season and looking at ways to strengthen his squad.

"I had a meeting with the chairman yesterday and we are planning for the Premier League and we will continue that," he said. "Those players deserve a crack, and they'll get it, but we do need to bolster the ranks."

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