FORMER Clarets boss Owen Coyle shrugged off the reception he received from angry Clarets fans last night and declared: I’ll never say a bad word about this wonderful football club.

Coyle made his first appearance back at Turf Moor since walking out on Burnley in January to join Bolton Wanderers.

After the game, he insisted: “Growing up where I grew up, I had to fight tooth and nail for everything I have achieved in football and this football club benefited from that during my time here.

“There was stuff I had to deal with here that people don’t know about, the financial side.

"I did everything with a smile on my face and got on with it.

“Football is an entertainment business and there are heroes and villains.

"I was a hero here for two years and now I am a villain.

“None of that will take anything away from my time at this wonderful football club and I won’t say a bad word about them.

“This is a unique club and they are very passionate.

"I took that forward so when it comes back to bite me on the bum, I cannot be griping and moaning.”

Coyle was shadowed to the dug out by stewards, who kept a watchful eye on the Scotsman throughout the game.

But Coyle insisted that the added security was not at his request.

He said: “As any manager will tell you, once the game starts you don’t notice stuff like that, you are just focussed on the game.

“I was happy to walk to my dug-out. That security must have been from Burnley Football Club, it certainly wasn’t requested by us.

"We were happy to turn up and play a game of football, as we always are.”