Burnley supporters would doubtless bristle at the thought of receiving a helping hand from their Lancashire neighbours, but the club’s progress to the Carling Cup semi-finals this week was down, in part at least, to a tip-off from Bolton Wanderers.

Barry Kilby, the Burnley chairman, revealed yesterday that he had never even heard of Owen Coyle up to a year ago and that it was only after a recommendation from Phil Gartside, his Bolton counterpart, that he decided to appoint the former Ireland striker as the club’s manager.

But after watching Coyle mastermind Burnley’s 2-0 victory over Arsenal at Turf Moor on Tuesday evening, Kilby conceded that it was the best bit of advice he had received as the club prepare for their best chance of reaching a leading final for the first time in 25 years. “The appointment of Owen came a bit from left field,” Kilby said. “We were interviewing a few high-profile candidates but Brendan Flood, one of my directors, spoke to Phil Gartside at Bolton and he said, ‘There is this guy up in Scotland you should have a chat with.’

“I must admit that was the first time I had ever heard of Owen Coyle but I certainly don’t regret it now. It’s the best tip-off we’ve ever had.

“I arranged to meet him in Scotland [where he was managing St Johnstone at the time] and was impressed with the sheer force of his personality. That’s what got him the job. He just ticked every single box I had and came across as the man I wanted to take on.

“All appointments are gambles, aren’t they, so I suppose this one was, too, but being a name doesn’t guarantee anything.”