Freedman leaves Palace for Bolton

Dougie Freedman has left Crystal Palace and become the new manager of Bolton, the London club have confirmed.

Freedman, 38, was given permission to talk to Wanderers yesterday afternoon after a U-turn from Palace, who had initially refused to allow contact hours earlier.

And Bolton have wasted little time coming to an agreement with the 38-year-old, with Palace breaking the news via an official statement.

“Crystal Palace Football Club can confirm that first-team manager Dougie Freedman has joined Bolton Wanderers,” read the statement on the club’s website.

“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.

“The team at tonight’s game against Barnsley will be taken by assistant manager Lennie Lawrence and first-team coach Curtis Fleming.”