Coyle rejected a move to boyhood heroes Celtic in the summer

Owen Coyle rejected the chance to quadruple his wages with a move to Celtic in order to test himself "in the best league in the world".

The 43-year-old Scot joined Bolton from fellow English Premier League outfit Burnley last week.

"If it was finance I would have taken the Celtic job in the summer and could have quadrupled my salary," Coyle said.

"I want to be involved at the highest level and the highest level in world football is the Premier League."

Coyle said he turned down a move to his boyhood heroes because England's top-flight will help him realise his ambitions in management.

The Scot was linked with Celtic in the summer when Gordon Strachan decided to step down after guiding the club to three league titles in four seasons.

"They offered me the job and I turned it down to stay at Burnley," he said.

Celtic were the team I supported as a boy, they offered me the job and I turned it down to stay at Burnley Bolton manager Owen Coyle

And Coyle bristled at suggestions he had left Turf Moor for his own financial benefit.

"That is just a knee-jerk reaction from people that do not know me," said Coyle, who is a former Bolton player.

"You want to be the best you can be and that's my motivation. I want to be involved at the highest level and the highest level in world football is the Premier League.

"There's no doubt about it, the best individual players in world football operate in the Premier League. You want to go and compete with the best in the business.

"Celtic were the team I supported as a boy and I spoke with Celtic in the summer.

"They offered me the job and I turned it down to stay at Burnley. I think that puts to bed anything about finances."

Coyle's first match in charge of relegation-threatened Bolton will be against Arsenal on Sunday.

Celtic appointed former Hibernian and West Brom boss Tony Mowbray as Strachan's successor.

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