'We've not got coffee. That's Bisto gravy you a***hole': Owen Coyle recalls mortifying moment he served St Johnstone chairman a mug of gravy instead of coffee during job interview

• e-mail

Owen Coyle has spoken of the time how he confused Bisto gravy with coffee – and it almost cost him his first break into management with St Johnstone.

The Scottish-born, former Republic of Ireland international striker was winding down his playing days at St Johnstone in 2005 and hoping to make the transition to coaching.

He arranged to meet Saints chairman Geoff Brown for a job interview at his home near Perth but – in an incident reminiscent of Uncle Albert's mix up in the 1996 Only Fools and Horses Christmas special – somehow managed to serve him a mug of gravy rather than coffee.

Owen Coyle (left) has recalled the time he served St Johnstone chairman Geoff Brown (right) a mug of gravy instead of coffee during his interview for the manager's job 

Coyle was manager of St Johnstone for two years as he launched his post-playing career

Coyle told the Football Daft podcast: 'I had a lodge up at Erigmore estate at Dunkeld, just outside Perth. 

'It was the Easter holidays; Geoff Brown rang me. He said would you be interested in the St Johnstone job? 

'He said "I'll drive down to Glasgow to meet you"; I said "no you don't have to actually, I'm in Dunkeld". He said "right, I'll be out in 10 minutes". 

Coyle managed to confuse the Bisto gravy packaging for coffee granules 

'It was pouring with rain; I said to [my wife] Kerry you're going to have to take the kids out - the St Johnstone chairman is coming. So she's away in the pouring rain. 

'Geoff Brown turns up, sure enough 10 or 15 minutes later... he goes through and sits down. 

'I said would you like a tea or a coffee? He said "I'd love a coffee"... I only drink tea. 

'But I'm trying to make a good impression – "yes, Mr Chairman; no, Mr Chairman". 

'I eventually found the coffee, so I made it – and because I only drink tea my mugs are huge. 

'We chatted away easily for 70 minutes; it couldn't have went any better. He said "I'll be in touch sooner rather than later". 

'I see him out and went to grab my mobile phone – it's on silent; 12 missed calls from Kerry, wanting back in from the rain. 

'The kids are soaked through, so she said "that better have been worth it". I said 'Kerry, it couldn't have went any better. 

'The only thing was he threw me at the start because he asked for a coffee. 'She said: "We've not got coffee. That's Bisto gravy you a***hole."

Coyle led Burnley into the Premier League via the Championship play-offs back in 2009

He later went on to manage Bolton (pictured), Wigan and Blackburn in the English leagues

Despite the calamity, Coyle still got the Saints job, launching him into a managerial career that took him on to Burnley, Bolton Wanderers, Wigan, Houston Dynamo, Blackburn and Ross County.

Coyle, 53, is currently coach of Indian Super League club Chennaiyin.

In the classic Only Fools episode 'Time on Our Hands', which sees the Trotter brothers finally become millionaires, Uncle Albert mixes up Maxwell House coffee and Oxo gravy while Del is trying to impress Raquel's parents.