Blackburn Rovers have appointed ex-Burnley and Bolton manager Owen Coyle on a two-year deal, the club have confirmed.

The former Houston Dynamo manager has been brought in to replace Paul Lambert, who activated a release clause in his contract after just 6 months in charge.

Blackburn have been without a manager since the final game of the season and have been linked with a number of names.

The appointment of Owen Coyle is not without its controversy.

In 2009 Owen Coyle famously guided Rovers' local rivals Burnley to their first top flight promotion in 33 years.

However it is not his past links with Burnley that is at the forefront of Rovers' fans minds but the past link with SEM, a sports agency that have had controversial dealings with Blackburn Rovers in the past.

The ghost of 'Agent Anderson' just can't seem to escape the murky dealings of Blackburn and their less than favoured owners Venky's.

Coyle sensationally left Burnley during their Premier League campaign to join up with Bolton, another East Lancashire side, in January 2010. Coyle had claimed that Bolton were "5 or 10 years ahead of Burnley", a move which served to infuriate the claret side of Lancashire.

He managed to guide Bolton to safety in the 09-10 season with a respectable 14th place finish. Coyle eventually oversaw the relegation of Bolton on the 13th May 2012 and was eventually sacked on 9th October 2012 following a 2-1 defeat away to Birmingham City.

Despite Coyle's turmoil at Bolton Wanderers he did prove himself very shrewd in the loan market, managing to acquire the talents of Daniel Sturridge and Jack Wilshere on loan from Chelsea and Arsenal respectively. He also guided them to an FA Cup semi-final although was comprehensively beaten 5-0 by Stoke City.

Coyle's shrewdness in the loan market, and his ability to work under a budget as shown by his success at Burnley, will be of paramount importance in the decision to appoint him the new manager of Blackburn Rovers.

The club currently stands over 100m in debt and has recently faced the wrath of the financial fair play rules which placed them under a transfer embargo. A number of additions to a depleted Blackburn squad will have to be made, however he can share some confidence that he will join a very experienced backroom staff team in Alan Irvine and Rob Kelly.

Blackburn Rovers avoided relegation from the Championship last season under the tutelage of Paul Lambert.

However with only 14 players under contract and the fan base rife with discontent next season is shaping up to be a defining year in the history of this great club.