OWEN Coyle revealed his relationship with Ross County chairman Roy MacGregor was key to his decision to take on the manager’s job in Dingwall.

The former St Johnstone manager has returned to Scottish football almost 10 years after leaving Perth for Burnley.

Coyle spent three months on loan at County during his Dunfermline days in the 2000/01 season and remained in touch with MacGregor.

The County chairman claimed on Monday that he had not given a thought to a successor to Jim McIntyre and would take his time to replace the manager, whose dismissal was announced that day.

But MacGregor was on the phone to Coyle, McIntyre’s former Dundee United team-mate, the very same day and quickly wrapped up a deal to bring the former Burnley, Bolton, Wigan and Blackburn manager to the Ladbrokes Premiership on a two-year contract.

MacGregor’s funds and support have been crucial in establishing County as a top-flight club and he has shown his ambition by sacking the manager who brought them their first piece of major silverware, the 2016 League Cup, and installing a man who has been in charge of two clubs in the English Premier League.

Coyle, who will be assisted by long-time number two Sandy Stewart, told Sky Sports News HQ: “The chairman rang me on Monday afternoon and asked me if the job would be of interest to me. It’s obviously a club I know well having had a spell on loan here many years ago.

“The club has come on leaps and bounds since that time, the infrastructure and the training ground is of a very high standard and having had chat with chairman and owner Roy MacGregor I felt it was the right job for me.

“I’ve said before when you have a good relationship and understanding with the chairman than that for me is the basis for bringing success to the football club and that’s what we will be looking to foster here.”

Coyle guided Burnley to the Premier League and spent a further two-and-a-half seasons in the English top flight with Bolton, before lasting just six months in the Championship with Wigan in the latter half of 2013.

The former Motherwell and Airdrie striker was sacked by Blackburn in February after arriving following a spell with Houston Dynamo.

And MacGregor was delighted to secure the services of such an experienced boss.

The County chairman said: “To think that Owen is here today is, for me, probably a bit of a dream.”

The Dingwall side face Kilmarnock at Rugby Park tomorrow.