Owen Coyle appointed Wigan manager

Owen Coyle has been named as the new manager of Wigan Athletic, succeeding Roberto Martinez at the DW Stadium.

Coyle, 46, has been out of work since being sacked by Bolton Wanderers in October 2012. Details of his Wigan contract have yet to be confirmed.

He faces the challenge of restoring FA Cup winners Wigan to the Premier League following their relegation from the top flight after eight years last season.

And he will also guide them through their first-ever European campaign - their Wembley victory over Manchester City earned them a place in the Europa League.

Wigan chairman Dave Whelan told Sky Sports: "He has come across as being by far and away the best for the job among five or six very, very good applications.

"The total priority is to get Wigan Athletic back in the Premier League in the next two years. His enthusiasm to do the job impressed me. He has a belief in Wigan Athletic.

"There is a lot of work to do. We have something like 55, 56 games next season, and he has to start immediately."

Whelan had also considered former England manager Steve McClaren, Rene Meulensteen - who was Sir Alex Ferguson's assistant at Manchester United - and Karl Robinson, of League One MK Dons.

He added: "Steve [McClaren] was a very good candidate. It has been a trying time.

"I'm not right all the time, but I want to be right most of the time. If anyone can get us back in [the Premier League], I think Owen is the man to do it."

Wigan midfielder James McArthur had welcomed the appointment on Twitter before it was announced by the club.

McArthur tweeted: "Happy with the new appointment in Owen Coyle - another Scot. Hopefully everyone can get behind him and the team for the new season."

Coyle, a striker for Bolton, Dundee United and Motherwell during a 22-year playing career, had a brief spell as joint player-manager at Falkirk in 2003.

He then coached at Dundee United and was assistant boss at Airdrie before taking charge at St Johnstone in 2005.

He moved to England to join Burnley in 2007, guiding them to the Premier League two years later before leaving to join Bolton in January 2010.

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