OWEN Coyle celebrates a successful first year in charge of Burnley tomorrow and has told Clarets fans: “We’ve only just got started.”

Coyle has already surpassed many supporters’ expectations by guiding the Clarets to fourth in the Championship and the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup – knocking out Premier League leaders Chelsea for good measure.

The 42-year-old’s approval ratings have gone through the roof but Coyle, who gave up his job with Scottish side St Johnstone to join Burnley, is not content to merely sit back and reflect on a happy 12 months.

Far from it, he wants more.

“We can’t affect anything that’s gone but we can affect what is in front of us and that’s our focus,” said Coyle.

“Our targets are just the same as the year before, to try to win each game we play.

“We don’t make any claims about anything and we never have done.

“Whether my first year did or didn’t go as well as could be expected doesn’t matter, because we are where we are.

“There have been times when I felt we should have done better but that’s the nature of the game. It’s an ongoing process.”

He added: “I have to say it has been a really quick year. There have been a lot of things we have put in place that will set us up well for the years to come.

“For me, there have been a lot of pleasing aspects. As well as the results last week, there are other things you put in place that people might think are little things but in terms of helping the club to run well – hopefully for years to come – then we take enormous satisfaction from that.”

One thing Coyle takes satisfaction from is the progress of the club’s younger players.

Jay Rodriguez and Alex MacDonald have come through the youth set-up and impressed in the first team, while youthful signings such as Kevin McDonald, Martin Paterson and Chris Eagles are bearing fruit.

Coyle said: “I take enormous satisfaction from getting the young kids into the team and I’m pretty sure if they continue their development they’ll be in even more than they have been.

“We knew Jay could play, that’s why we sent him on loan and developed him. Young Alex came into the team at the end of last season and has been away with Scotland (under 19s).

“I spoke to the staff and he was a breath of fresh air when he was away with them.

“It’s great to see the development of these kids and the young ones – the Kevin McDonalds, the Patersons and the Eagles we’ve brought in – have complemented what we’re trying to do.”

There are notable similarities with the last occasion Coyle was challenging at the top of England’s second flight, during his playing days with Bolton in 1995.

A youthful side punching above their weight, packed with character and renowned for their cup upsets.

Coyle certainly would not complain if Burnley achieved what Bolton did in 1995 – a League Cup Final appearance and promotion to the Premier League through the play-offs.

“We certainly had a great cup run at Bolton,” he said.

“To be fair to Bruce Rioch, he built that team for the best part of three years.

“I would hope if there were any similarities it would certainly be the same ending – that team went to a cup final and got promoted through the play-offs!

“But we’re not under any illusions about how difficult it is.

“In Championship terms and financial terms, we’ve no right to be where we are.

“But we do have a group of players that try to win each and every game, and long may that continue.”