BURNLEY are prepared to fight Bolton Wanderers all the way to get what they believe they are owed for Owen Coyle.

The wantaway Clarets boss has told chairman Barry Kilby and operational director Brendan Flood of his desire to leave Turf Moor to take charge at the Reebok Stadium, and take assistant manager Sandy Stewart and coach John Henry with him.

But Kilby and co aren’t prepared to let their leading man go without a battle.

They were locked in talks with Coyle late into Monday night, resulting in him agreeing to sleep on their proposals after he had earlier met with Bolton chairman Phil Gartside.

He was even set to take training yesterday morning until it was cancelled as a result of severe snow.

However, the glimmer of hope he offered to fans proved false, despite Burnley’s last-ditch plea being followed up yesterday morning, with Kilby making a final attempt to persuade him to stay.

With Coyle’s mind made up, though, the two clubs must now thrash out a compensation package and resolve a dispute over the request for official permission.

Burnley believe only an ‘informal chat’ took place.

Bolton are not prepared to stump up the £3million now being demanded by Burnley. They believe a figure closer to £1m is more reasonable, particularly with Gary Megson’s parting package still to be finalised following his sacking last week.

A Clarets statement read: “Owen Coyle has today reaffirmed his desire to leave Burnley Football Club and join Bolton Wanderers Football Club.

“Burnley Football Club will now enter discussions with Bolton Wanderers Football Club, due to the fact that compensation between the two parties has yet to be agreed.

“There will be no further comment at this time.”

The involvement of lawyers, on both sides, has prompted the silence.

Bolton’s flew in from Dubai in the hope of finalising the deal this morning, ahead of their Premier League game at Arsenal, which is in doubt because of heavy snow and frost.

They expect their trip to Sunderland on Saturday to be Coyle’s first game in charge, and are laying on free coaches to encourage more travelling fans to support their ‘new boss’.

But it will not be so straightforward unless Burnley feel they have been suitably compensated.

Coyle negotiated a release clause in the 12-month contract extension he secured following interest from Celtic in the aftermath of promotion in May.

As I understand it, the fees were agreed on a sliding scale, with a maximum price of £3m.

But Burnley are determined not to get short-changed by their rivals, and could even put Coyle on ‘gardening leave’.

When Steve Bruce left Crystal Palace in November 2001, it was six weeks before he was able to take charge of Birmingham City after the two clubs had to settle their differences in the High Court.

For the Clarets, the search for Coyle’s successor is now underway, with Steve Davis taking training tomorrow and expected to be in caretaker charge of Saturday’s home game with Stoke City.