Crystal Palace Brush Bolton Approach for Freedman Aside

It was confirmed yesterday that Bolton Wanderers had made an official approach for Crystal Palace boss Dougie Freedman, and interim manager Jimmy Phillips has confirmed it again. Today Crystal Palace released a statement saying that they have not allowed Bolton to enter into talks with their boss. The statement from their official site reads,

Crystal Palace F.C. can confirm that they have received a request from Bolton Wanderers to speak to Dougie Freedman regarding their vacant managers position.

Permission has not been granted for Dougie to speak to Bolton.

Freedman has been doing really well for Palace this season, and given the fact that Bolton are probably not in the financial position to offer a large sum of compensation, it is not entirely surprising that Palace are resisting Bolton's passes on the Scotsman. Reports do suggest that the club has been quite generous in their contract terms with Freedman himself, however, which may suggest that they would be willing to extend similar amounts to Crystal Palace. It remains to be seen whether Bolton are actually willing to pay that sort of money for Freedman, but this statement has made it clear it will be necessary if the Wanderers want Freedman.