Parish Calm Over Freedman Departure as Bolton Switch is Confirmed

Bolton Wanderers have appointed Dougie Freedman as their new manager from Crystal Palace.

The 38 year old replaces Owen Coyle, who was sacked a fortnight ago, at the Reebok Stadium having left Palace in fourth place in The Championship.

Assistant manager Lennie Lawrence and first team coach Curtis Fleming will take charge of Tuesday night's game against Barnsley in the absence of Freedman, who will be charged with winning promotion at the first attempt back to the Premier League with The Trotters.

"Crystal Palace Football Club can confirm that first team manager Dougie Freedman has joined Bolton Wanderers," a statement read.

"The Board of the Club would like to put on record their thanks to Dougie for all his efforts over the past couple of years and their disappointment over the events of the past few days. The search for a replacement starts immediately."

After defeats in five of their first 10 Championship fixtures left Bolton in 16<sup>th the club parted ways with Coyle in an attempt to salvage their season.

Freedman took over at Palace with the club in the bottom three in the Championship in January 2011 and has since guided them via the Carling Cup semi-final to the play-off positions after only one full season in charge.

His rapid success as manager followed his tenure as a player at Selhurst Park where 106 goals over two spells led to him being regarded among the club's greatest in the modern era.

Freedman received praise for combining an exciting style of play with a healthy onus on young players, as he handed debuts to the likes of Jonathan Williams and Stuart O'Keefe while winger Wilfried Zaha has flourished under his leadership.

During the club's successful League Cup campaign, Freedman earned the most high profile win of his managerial career to date, beating Manchester United at Old Trafford before crashing out to Cardiff City over two legs on penalties.

Co-chairman Steve Parish has wished his best to Freedman ahead of his new position, and says that he doesn't feel betrayed over his departure.

"I had a very good relationship with Dougie and I wish him every success in the future," he said. "Football is a precarious situation for managers, eight games ago we had a boycott of fans wanting him out.

"Dougie feels his career can be served elsewhere, I don't feel betrayed and now we have to find a new manager. He had a good offer on the table from us.

"Dougie is not hugely motivated by money but maybe I could be proved wrong. It is more about ambition. I feel that we have got ambition, we want to get into the Premier League and stay there."