The former St Johnstone coach, who started life with the Clarets in
November 2007, has captured the hearts and the imaginations of
football fans nationwide during his short spell in East Lancashire and he will be given the chance to pit his wits against some of the world's best managers.

Coyle's four-year deal, which could potentially be Burnley's biggest summer signing, will now see him remain at the helm until the end of the 2012/13 season which has delighted "close friends" chairman Barry Kilby and operational director Brendan Flood.

Mr Kilby, who will celebrate Burnley's first ever season in the Premier League with his 10th anniversary as chairman, said: "We are absolutely delighted that Owen has agreed to sign a new and extended four year
contract.

"He can carry on the work that he's started and see us through in the
Premier League. We are going to work together and hopefully carry this club forward so I'm absolutely delighted that we've got our man to commit himself to the club.

"He knows the budget he's got to work with. That's starting right at the top, that's number one we had to put in place before we could start thinking about new players and the team so this was number one in our priority.

"I think we had set out for the long term wherever we were. If we had still been in the Championship we were looking to extend Owen's contract.

"Being able to go forward in the Premier League is an absolute added bonus. After the great season we've had, even if we hadn't have gone up, we had a fabulous season and we could see how the team was progressing, we would still have been sat here announcing Owen's extended contract."

A dark shadow had temporarily been cast over Coyle's future at the club as he was linked with the vacant managerial position at SPL runners up Celtic immediately after the Clarets 1-0 Wembley win over Sheffield United.

However, Coyle is adamant that he was always focussing on his future with Burnley.

"It was very easy. I think everyone knows my feelings for the football club and how much I've enjoyed it from day one.

"I think it's paramount as well with the relationship I have with the chairman and Brendan Flood at the football club. That played a big part in it.

"It's great with continuity and to keep everything going. I also said during the course of the season when some of the players that I brought in to go with the ones that we already had; I wasn't bringing them in for the sake of a short fix, I was bringing them in for the longevity of the club and to improve everything at the football club."

He added: "It was never an issue for me. I was here fully committed and we know the plan we've put in place and we want that to run for years to come so I think it gives everyone stability and it stops all the speculation which has been ongoing which didn't help anybody and what we have to do now is, given that stability, move the club on.

"It's such an exciting time coming on the back of the fixtures that were released.

"What an unbelieveable start to the season for everybody involved with the games that are coming up. What an opportunity for everybody in the club and the town and hopefully with this news it lets everybody know that we are looking to move this club forward."

The boyhood Hoops supporter went on: "Regarding speculation it's flattering when other people think that you could do a job for their football club there's no getting away from that but we were always focussed, we speak on a daily basis the three of us, we've got a fantastic relationship and that will continue for years to come.

"This is not a knee-jerk reaction, it's not something that happened in the last month, we've been speaking about this for a long period of time.

"Things were put off because of the games we've had and the end of the
season and we didn't want anything getting in the road of the players' remaining focus.

"We'd put everything on hold knowing that we had an understanding because of the relationship that we have.

"Not just as football people but as human beings. We knew that when the time was right we would put this to bed.

"It's great that we are a Premier League club but if we hadn't have been and unfortunately we'd have lost out then we would still be here announcing that we'd signed an extended deal as a Championship club.

"As it is, we're not, we're a Premier League club and we'll look to do everything we can to make sure we remain one."