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Dougie Freedman to join Bolton from Crystal Palace

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Dougie Freedman

Dougie Freedman is expected to be installed as manager of Bolton Wanderers by the end of the week, reports BBC Radio Manchester.

Crystal Palace granted Bolton permission to speak to the 38-year-old about their managerial vacancy, having turned down their initial approach.

Lennie Lawrence and Curtis Fleming will be in charge for the Eagles' game against Barnsley on Tuesday.

Bolton have been without a boss since

Academy chief Jimmy Phillips took charge for Saturday's win over Bristol City and is set to pick the team for Tuesday's Championship fixture at Wolves.

But it is understood that Freedman could be at the helm by the time Wanderers visit Middlesbrough on Saturday.

Freedman became Palace boss in January 2011, replacing George Burley.

The former Scotland international, who is in his first managerial role, led Palace to the League Cup semi-finals last season and has steered them to fourth in the Championship this term - 12 places above Bolton.

Having been on QPR's books as a youngster, he later joined Palace where he had two spells as a player.

Freedman also played for Wolves, Nottingham Forest, Leeds United on loan and Southend, where his career ended in March 2010, allowing him to return to Selhurst Park once more to join the coaching staff.

Bolton caretaker Phillips said he was made aware of the club's desire to appoint Freedman by chairman Phil Gartside on Sunday.

"Phil said from the outset he'd be open and honest with us," said Phillips.

"He came to the training ground on Sunday and said he had made contact with Crystal Palace to speak to Dougie Freedman.

"We've said all along that Phil and Eddie [Davies, Bolton's owner] will be the people who pick the next manager of Bolton Wanderers.

"It won't be for anybody to put their names in the ring and suggest they want to be manager. In the meantime we said we would work our hardest to get the best out of the players."

Speaking to BBC Radio Manchester before Saturday's game, which Gartside said: "Everybody has recognised that it is a very important appointment, this one.

"We believe we've got a good squad and it's important that we get the wheels back on and get promoted this season. It's vital to us so we're going to give it due process.

"It's got to be the right person, the chemistry has got to be right and it's got to be the right man for the job."

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345 comments

  • Comment posted by James, at 14:38 21 Oct 2012

    "I'm in the middle of building Crystal Palace Football Club. I think I'm halfway there in getting the club the way I want it to be, and I'm not the sort of guy to leave jobs half done." - Dougie Freedman on Thursday.

    Seems like the sort of quote that would've been relevant to include in this article

  • Comment posted by User0021809909, at 19:58 21 Oct 2012

    As for who's the biggest club, we have been somewhat spoiled with our 2 seasons in Europe and 4 consecutive top 8 finishes under Allardyce. It does tend to give us an inflated sense of status. However, we are where we are now, and that's what counts.

  • Comment posted by USAIN_BOLTon, at 08:45 22 Oct 2012

    I'm fed up with all the derogatory comments made by Palace fans about our town. Have you ever been "up north" or have you just seen the hovis add on TV? Bolton and the surrounding area is a fantastic place to live!
    Just because you don't want your manager to move on don't have a pop at out town, and while i'm on the subject of your manager he's doing a great job where he is, he should stay there

  • Comment posted by D1675124304951, at 17:12 21 Oct 2012

    Why would the highly esteemed manager of a club performing well in financially stable position move to a club in an inferior position?

  • Comment posted by Wandering Nomad, at 14:21 22 Oct 2012

    To the Palace fans belittling Bolton, how you can do this when your club has only ever spent 13 seasons of it's entire football league history in the top tier, to mock another team who's just recently spent a decade in the top flight is a joke!

  • Comment posted by User0666295061, at 14:32 22 Oct 2012

    Not a supporter of either club so i'm completely impartial.

    However Crystal Palace run out and celebrate to what must be the coolest club song ever "Glad all over" by the Dave Clark Five.

    Three members of Squeeze follow them as well.

    Why would Dougie Freedman leave that behind???

  • Comment posted by User0477839712, at 15:58 22 Oct 2012

    @144 mark Davies had heavy interest from Liverpool and if holden were fit he too would undoubtedly of recieved interest from other EPL clubs

  • Comment posted by User0544445356, at 14:41 22 Oct 2012

    @131 not many Bolton fans are trying to justify claims we're bigger than you- its you lot that have gone on the defensive. In all honesty I'd understand if DF didn't leave you. Your a good club going places.

    @129- absolute nonsense. Bolton have Chung Yong, Mark Davies, Stuart Holden, Afobe, Spearing, Vela, Riley and a few more.

    We've got talent at our club- just majorly underachieving.

  • Comment posted by User0877781044, at 15:35 22 Oct 2012

    "143. Bolton are going to get relegated this season to League One, in the words of Tinnie Tempah "Written in the stars" And I've put money on it! Watch this space at the end of the season."

    Won't happen.. also, you should listen to some better music...

  • Comment posted by User0713689324, at 18:59 22 Oct 2012

    Loved the Bolton baiting on here the last few days. Thought Palace as a suburb of Burnley for a time with all the sideways move crap. In fact when I googled your lot "built in 1854 for the great exhibition" is top of the list. Wake up fellas your hardly the Arsenal, in fact you've hardly ever played the Arsenal in the last 30 years.

    For the record, I hope he stays where he is!

  • Comment posted by BurndenAce, at 18:52 21 Oct 2012

    Do not understand the mentality of Palace fans under the impression that they are a bigger club than Bolton because "We are currently higher than them in the league table."

    Bolton have a much stronger and in-depth squad that haven't been getting the results that reflect that, hence why Owen Coyle has just been sacked. Palace will sell Zaha, and replace him with 3/4 Championship standard players.

  • Comment posted by ANDYG81, at 19:43 22 Oct 2012

    Palace fans don't want him to leave and majority of Bolton fans don't want him, strange decision all round.

  • Comment posted by User0556431894, at 13:48 23 Oct 2012

    After taking Palace to Champions League glory on FM12 I think it's only right that I get my chance now. Time to update my CV...

  • Comment posted by User0544445356, at 14:24 22 Oct 2012

    If we did get DF it would certainly be a gamble from the Bolton board. If he could make us watertight at the back and bring out the best in our attacking talents such as Holden, Lee and Mark Davies then we will be a force to reckon with. I don't want to sound arrogant but Bolton are majorly underachieving and Palace are overachieving- something I'm sure will be going through Freedmand's mind.

  • Comment posted by D1679673583224, at 20:53 22 Oct 2012

    Integrity. I thought that was what Dougie Freedman was about. I think he will stay and use the situation to get a decent contract. If not, bye bye!

  • Comment posted by User0067142889, at 02:17 22 Oct 2012

    Well will managers learn that they should stay at a club, and that the grass is not always greener - Coyle, Mowbray, Howe, de Matteo, Ince, Hodgson, Hughes and many others have all left smaller clubs for bigger clubs and then have been axed. How long will Rodgers be at Liverpool?

  • Comment posted by chrismair, at 22:02 22 Oct 2012

    It would be a shame for Dougie to leave before he's finished the job at Palace. Still lots to do.

    Don't think it's a great career move either.

  • Comment posted by User0283840621, at 14:55 22 Oct 2012

    @127 "Palace have cheated" What are you talking about?
    @121 no one's interested in your weedy comment, so there (their or they're? Muppet)

  • Comment posted by User0031454330, at 11:44 23 Oct 2012

    @plumaddick...for the record, most Palace fans weren't calling for Freedman's head, however if any team loses 4 games in a row, there will be an outcry from a certain % of fans at any club.

  • Comment posted by Kick in the Nads, at 20:59 22 Oct 2012

    Man for man we have a squad as good as anything in the league. Players such as Eagles, Holden and Lee Chung-Yong are polished Premier League performers. Take into consideration an excellent stadium, top class training facilties and an under 18's side that stand 8 points clear in their division....its a very appealing job. Welcome to Bolton!!

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