OWEN Coyle was perhaps not the choice to excite Burnley fans when he pipped Peter Reid to the Turf Moor post back in November 2007.

The St Johnstone boss, a journeyman striker with 14 clubs in his playing career, had seen his stock rise in Perth and at Falkirk before that but how would he cope in the English Championship as he replaced Steve Cotterill?

Coyle, who never spent any longer than three seasons at any club, had been interviewed by Bolton only to lose out to Gary Megson. Wanderers chairman Phil Gartside then recommended the Scot to the Clarets. Coyle was also backed by Birmingham boss Alex McLeish, who believed the time was right for the lifelong Celtic fan to move south.

And from his first game in charge, against Stoke City, Coyle’s Clarets went on a five-match unbeaten run and by the end of the season he led them to a mid-table finish.

But it was the 2008/09 season that saw Coyle’s stock rise into the stratosphere as he delivered the dream of Premier League football to Football League founder members Burnley as the town travelled to Wembley to see the Clarets reach the pinnacle with their play-off win over Sheffield United.

‘Burnley are back’ was the chant. Coyle was dubbed God by his adoring claret-clad followers – but the story of that mesmeric season contained more twists and turns than a giant slalom course.

Promotion seemed a million miles away way back in August as the Clarets were thrashed 4-1 at Sheffield Wednesday. It was the most unexpected result and a week later promotion hopes were akin to climbing Everest in carpet slippers as Ipswich Town strolled away from Turf Moor with three points after an easy 3-0 win.

The rot stopped with a 0-0 home draw with Plymouth Argyle and then a rare win at Nottingham Forest finally got the Clarets up and running in a stunning September.

Blackpool, Preston and Watford were beaten, the Clarets drew at Swansea and Premier League Fulham were seen off in the Carling Cup.

October was another fine month before the November night that really put the Clarets and Coyle in the national spotlight.

Burnley swaggered down the Kings Road to face the multi-millionaires of Chelsea in their own Stamford Bridge back yard. The brave Lancashire boys facing the multi-national, global superstars. A travelling army packed the away end, more in hope of a good night out than expectation.

And when Didier Drogba put Chelsea ahead, it looked for all the world that the cup was going to plan.

But Ade Akinbiyi levelled and then Brian Jensen was the penalty shoot-out hero.

Surely such a win would damage the league form but no, that was not the case as an eight-match unbeaten run followed, including yet another sensational Carling Cup display.

Arsenal’s young guns, full of flair, style and skill, came to Turf Moor only to be sent spinning out of the competition thanks to two Kevin McDonald goals. Coyle’s football was catching the eye, taking Burnley to a nationwide audience and finding a whole new legion of fans.

But the biggest test of Coyle and his players came in the first leg of the Carling Cup semi-final when Burnley’s defence collapsed in a 4-1 loss. Ouch, that hurt - and then when Swansea outplayed Burnley in a 2-0 Turf Moor win, the players from a small squad looked weary.

A derby loss at Preston didn’t exactly add to a confident feeling yet the season came back to life on January 21, 2009.

Tottenham arrived at Turf Moor for the second leg of the Carling Cup semi-final with one foot at Wembley. But Burnley took them apart, winning 3-2 on the night but bowing out as Spurs scored twice in the last two minutes of extra time to break Burnley’s hearts.

But the Clarets were the real winners. Football believed Burnley had been wronged and willed the Clarets on.

West Brom were beaten in the FA Cup before that dream died at the hands of Arsenal at the Emirates but there was a steel and determination about Burnley as the huge Championship win on the foulest of seaside nights at Blackpool proved.

The play-offs were getting closer and Burnley finally made it into the shoot-out.

A brilliant aggregate win over Reading put Burnley at Wembley and when Wade Elliott scored his great goal under the arch, Coyle had delivered that dream.

Celtic came a calling hours after that game – but Coyle stayed loyal to Burnley. He was also linked with the Scotland job when George Burley was fired. He didn’t get that one.

Burnley were back in the big time and after an opening day defeat at Stoke, Manchester United were beaten at Turf Moor.

Everton suffered the same fate and pundits who reckoned Burnley, with the smallest squad in the Premier League and wage bill that wouldn’t buy a John Terry tour of Chelsea’s training ground, would return to the Championship with a minuscule points total were suddenly taking notice of the free-flowing football.

Yes, the season has been tough with just one point claimed on the road - but Coyle, with his itchy feet transferring from his playing career to his managerial one, leaves Burnley in a promising position at the start of the new decade.

Where they go from here is now the big question.