BURNLEY favourite Paul Fletcher has likened Clarets boss Owen Coyle to two of the club's best-ever managers - Harry Potts and Jimmy Adamson.

In his short time as Burnley's development director - in which he is overseeing the new stadium redevelopment at Turf Moor - Fletcher has been impressed with Coyle's start to life in the Clarets hot-seat.

The former striker has described Coyle's ability to engage with supporters, and the people of Burnley, as a real asset, characteristics shared by Potts and Adamson, bosses that were held in the greatest esteem by fans and townfolk.

"I've had some good conversations with Owen, and I've been mightily impressed with him," said Fletcher (pictured), who made over 300 appearances for Burnley during the 1970's.

"He's the sort of person that doesn't just want to get into his players, but also the hearts and minds of supporters and the people of Burnley.

"He seems to have a real passion for the whole job, so to speak, how managers used to be in the old days, like Harry Potts and Jimmy Adamson.

"For them, it was not just about the team, but being responsible to the town as well. Owen is like that, and he seems to be getting the backing of the supporters as a result of that.

"It's as though he wants to be friends with everybody. There's always a positive air around him, a real buzz, and people latch onto that."

Back to help smoothly run the £20 million stadium and Gawthorpe redevelopment, after spending time as chief executive of today's opponents Coventry City, Fletcher said is he open to passing on advice to Coyle in his first stint in English management.

But the 57-year-old admits he does not want to interfere with the Scotsman.

Fletcher added: "I don't want to go into too much of the playing side of things.

"I've said this to Owen. The last thing he wants is an ex-footballer telling him what's possibly right or wrong.

"But if he wants to knock on my door and ask for my opinion, I will always give it."

And with a new modern stadium on the horizon, Fletcher feels supporters should be excited about the future.

He added: "I think the fans should see the opportunity of the club's future being better.

"That's because they've got a local businessman done good in Brendan Flood, who is passionate about Burnley and taking the club forward.

"Also, Barry Kilby is the perfect chairman because he's got no ego and only the best of interests for the club.

"They've also got a great manager in Owen Coyle who I hope goes on to achieve a lot of success at Burnley."