Clarets fans are set to protest against former manager Owen Coyle when Burnley take on his new club Bolton on Tuesday.

Prominent supporters said demonstrations against the former Clarets’ boss were ‘inevitable’ at the crunch relegation match at the Reebok Stadium.

And internet messageboards have been flooded with fans discussing ways of how to show their feelings towards Coyle.

Many have said they are planning to turn their backs on the Scot for one minute during the game – just as 5,000 Burnley fans did to the board at Turf Moor in 1996.

Others are suggesting that the 4,800 travelling contingent wear Coyle masks with ‘Judas’ scrawled across them.

Many Clarets fans were angered after Coyle left Turf Moor to take the hotseat at nearby Bolton.

Police said officers from Burnley would act as ‘spotters’ at the game to identify known troublemakers.

But officers, who expect the match to pass without trouble, said their presence would be no greater than at any other ‘priority’ fixture.

Barrie Oliver, chairman of Burnley FC Supporters Club, said: “I have heard fans saying they’re going to turn their backs and others saying they’re going to wear Owen Coyle masks with ‘Judas’ written on them.”

A spokesman for Bolton Wanderers confirmed that Owen Coyle masks had been sold to their supporters, although they had now been removed from the club shop.

Scott Daniels, a keen Burnley fan, who originally produced the masks for Burnley’s play-off final at Wembley in May said he had about 700 masks left over and had supplied them to Bolton.

A number of keen Clarets said they were planning to wear their mask at the match, but with modifications.

Lifelong fan and Telegraph columnist Dave Burnley said he was planning to inscribe his own Coyle mask with the legend 'hero to zero.'

He said: "You will be able to tell the feelings of the fans from the inscriptions on their masks. You will not have any difficulties differentiating between the Burnley and the Bolton masks.

"There will be thousands of Burnley fans going so I am sure there will be some form of protest, along the lines of Judas or similar.

“I was probably more shocked by his departure then any of the 20 managers I have seen at Burnley."

Coyle made the short trip from Burnley to Bolton two weeks ago.

Former Burnley MP Peter Pike and Clarets Trust chairman Peter Pike called on supporters to get behind the team and new manager Brian Laws at the game.

He said: "People are going to give voice to their feelings, that is inevitable.

“But Owen Coyle is gone, we have a new manager and both he and the team are deserving of our support.

“While people still feel let down, the priority has got to be Brian Laws and the players now."

Fans have also suggested taking banners featuring the word ‘Judas’ to the match. Others are suggesting songs to direct at Coyle.

But police said it was ‘business as usual.’ Chief Inspector Jeff Brown, match commander at Turf Moor, said: “Under normal arrangements we would be sending police officers away with Burnley FC.

“We have been in touch with police in Bolton and have provided them with intelligence as part of the pre-match plans.

“We will probably have no more than three spotters working with Greater Manchester Police to identify known trouble-makers. I will be watching the match with a keen interest.

“I think it will be emotional, but I think Burnley fans will move on quite quickly.”

Sergeant Duncan Berry, of British Transport Police, said there would not be any special measures in place.

He said: “In relation to this fixture we will be supplying the same police response that we do for any home match. There will be a police presence at Bolton and Horwich Parkway stations before and after the match.

“Due to the extremely limited service after the match we are urging Burnley fans to seek alternative means of transport.”

A Burnley FC spokesman said all efforts were focussed on the club’s FA Cup tie away at Reading on Saturday.

He refused to comment on the match against Bolton until after Saturday.