Former Wigan manager Owen Coyle thinks Malky Mackay's success at the club will be dependent on a good relationship with chairman Dave Whelan.

Mackay put the controversies around his appointment behind him by drawing 1 - 1 with Middlesbrough in his first Championship game in charge at the weekend.

Coyle told Sky Sports News that he did not get on that well with Whelan, although he acknowledges that former boss Roberto Martinez did.

"He likes to get involved. He likes to tell you who his favourite players are and wants to come into the dressing room every other week. I didn't see eye to eye with him from day one. I've got to say that. But then again, he had a fantastic relationship with Roberto. If he has that with Malky, then Malky has every chance," said Coyle.   

Whelan has threatened to quit as chairman if the FA finds him guilty of making discriminatory comments about Jewish and Chinese people in an interview with The Guardian last week.

Meanwhile, Mackay is being investigated by the FA over allegedly racist, sexist and homophobic text messages.