TONIGHT will be the first time Clarke Carlisle and his Burnley team-mates have seen former manager Owen Coyle since his controversial Turf Moor exit.

But there will be no handshakes, pats on the back or good wishes – at least not before kick-off.

“We’ll probably not even acknowledge him until after the game because you’ve got a job to do,” said the central defender, who is desperate to end the Clarets’ search for a first Premier League away win at the Reebok Stadium.

“It would be hugely ironic if it happened!” he grinned.

After joining Bolton, Coyle said it rankled with him that he wasn’t able to bid farewell – face-to-face – to the boys he won promotion with in May and those he brought in to boost Burnley’s Premier League survival bid. Heavy snow meant what would have been his final training session was cancelled, leaving him to ring round his players instead after he told chairman Barry Kilby he wanted to go.

But it was water off a duck’s back for the players.

“It often happens – people leave like thieves in the dead of the night,” said Carlisle.

“It’s an upheaval, of course, especially in the middle of the season. But in terms of shock, these things happen in football. Players leave that you never expect to, managers leave that you never expect to. The important thing is that it doesn’t sideswipe you and you just get on with your job.

“It’s happened, and we move on.

“When we get there (the Reebok) I’m sure there’ll be no animosity. There probably won’t be any over-friendliness because it’s a professional scenario.

“When I went to Old Trafford I saw a couple of my good friends there from my Watford time, and even though we were sat in the stand it was just a nod and a wave because there’s a job to do.

“Once the game’s over, you catch up. We had a fantastic year under Owen and we thank him for it, but now we move on and make sure we’re equally successful.”

However, Carlisle is aware that the fans feel more strongly about Coyle’s departure, and are likely to demonstrate their anger tonight.

“They feel bitter about the way the gaffer left and the atmosphere may be a bit acrimonious on their behalf,” said the 30-year-old.

“You can see that the fans are hurt because when you build a successful unit, the breakdown of that unit can be emotional,” he said.

“But it’s still only one man who’s left the unit. The rest of the batallion battles on.”