Ex-Bolton boss Owen Coyle explains letting new Celtic signing Aaron Mooy go at Wanderers

Former Bolton boss Owen Coyle explained why he reluctantly agreed to let new Celtic midfielder and former Wanderers youngster Aaron Mooy leave the Whites.

The 31-year-old came through the youth team ranks at Wanderers but never made a first team appearance for the club. He was released in 2010 after a contract extension was declined.

The Australian international's club career has since taken him to St Mirren, Western Sydney Wanderers, Melbourne City, Manchester CIty, Huddersfield Town, Brighton & Hove Albion and Shanghai Port. He has signed for Scottish giants Celtic this summer on a two-year contract.

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Coyle was boss at Wanderers towards the conclusion of Mooy's time at the club. The midfielder moved to St Mirren that summer as he opted to leave Wanderers despite the club being keen to keep him.

Coyle explained that the likes of Johan Elmander, Martin Petrov and Lee Chung-Yong stood in Mooy's way of being handed game time at Wanderers and Wanderers 'reluctantly' agreed to let the midfielder go. But Coyle is pleased to see how Mooy has developed as a player since then and feels playing for a club as big as Celtic will be 'good for him'.

Speaking to the Scottish Sun, Coyle said: “The first thing I’d say about Aaron is that he’s a super-talented lad with fantastic ability. When he was at Bolton he was a No 10 and we had to impress upon him he needed to work a bit harder.

“Nobody ever doubted his ability on the ball, he just needed to do more when he wasn’t in possession. Him and Michael O’Halloran, who was in our youth system, were good pals at Bolton — and the pair of them were real talents.

“I was always