Crystal Palace manager Frank De Boer is the favourite to be sacked… but his job is safe despite arrival of Dougie Freedman
Following the Eagles defeat to Liverpool on the opening day of the season, the Dutch boss's position was left in jepordy
FRANK DE BOER’S job at Crystal Palace is safe — despite the arrival of Selhurst idol Dougie Freedman as sporting director.
De Boer was yesterday made favourite to be the first Premier League manager sacked following Palace’s defeat by Liverpool at the weekend.
Freedman, who walked out on the Eagles to become Bolton manager five years ago, has been given a wide-ranging brief by chairman Steve Parish.
The club legend knows Palace inside out and Parish believes he can play a key role supporting their new Dutch coach. Parish said: “This is a position I have been looking to fill for a while — someone to work with the manager, myself and head of recruitment Tim Coe on all the footballing aspects of the club.
“I’m delighted that Dougie has agreed to accept the position and look forward to continuing Crystal Palace’s progression to become a solid Premier League club with the right infrastructure.”
Freedman, 43, out of work since he was sacked by Bolton in 2014, has maintained close links at Selhurst Park.
Although there was initially bad blood with fans when he quit for the Reebok in 2012, it has softened over the years.
Now he is back at Selhurst Park in a different capacity and De Boer has been assured the Scot is not a threat to his job.
De Boer said: “I always worked with a sporting director during my time as manager at Ajax and I felt this was a position the club needed.
“I am looking forward to working with Dougie in this transfer window and beyond.”
Second-bottom Palace host Swansea on Saturday but first entertain Ipswich in the Carabao Cup second round tonight.