Owen Coyle’s may have worked away from Scotland for nearly a decade, but part of him is still very much in Tayside.
The newly-appointed Blackburn Rovers manager made his mark in this part of the world, beginning St Johnstone’s ascent that has shown no signs of tailing off, and netting the goal which gained Dundee United’s promotion to Scotland’s top flight back in 1996.
In a Courier Sport exclusive interview, Coyle said he is optimistic about the future of both his old clubs.
The former Republic of Ireland striker admits he was hurt by the Tangerines’ relegation from the top flight, but trusts former teammate Ray McKinnon to get the Tannadice club out of the Championship.
He was, too, full of praise for St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright who is presiding over an unprecedented era of Perth success.
Currently leading training sessions from the same Austrian countryside retreat Paul Hartley’s Dundee are stationed at, Coyle reminisced : “Geoff Brown, at St Johnstone, was as good a chairman as anybody could get.
“I hadn’t applied for the job – Geoff called me and gave me the opportunity to go to a wonderful club. That was very flattering.
“This was a club that was nearly relegated to the second division, but we came in and put the building blocks in place and got it up and running.
“We had a fantastic team who got to the semi-finals of the League Cup and Scottish Cup the same year, but were cruelly beaten in both.
“I loved my time at St Johnstone. I look back on it fondly.”
According to Coyle, that stability and support from boardroom level has allowed a succession of managers to thrive.
“It’s been a continual development at St Johnstone,” he said.
“From the time I left, Derek McInnes came in, did fantastically, and is now at Aberdeen doing a brilliant job.
“Then there was Stevie Lomas and now Tommy has stepped in.
“Tommy has done marvellously – winning the cup a couple of years ago was fantastic.
“All the guys who have come in have done well.”
As the man who netted the goal to secure Dundee United’s return to the top flight the last time they were in Scotland’s second tier, Coyle was saddened to see his former side fall through the exit door.
He said: “I was hurting like anyone else when United came out of the league.
“It’s still a part of me.
“When I scored the goal that took Dundee United back to the Premier League the last time I never thought they’d be out of it again.
“The Championship is not an easy league to get out of, but Ray McKinnon is someone I played with and I believe he is the right man to get Dundee United back where they need to be.
“I think he will re-energise the club and get the players on side.”
