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Curtis Fleming. Mike Egerton/EMPICS Sport
championship matters

Fleming steps in as Freedman takes Bolton job

Crystal Palace confirm that manager Dougie Freedman has left the club to take over as Bolton Wanderers boss.

FORMER REPUBLIC OF Ireland international Curtis Fleming will take temporary charge of Crystal Palace following Dougie Freedman’s decision to quit the club and join Bolton Wanderers.

Fleming, currently first team coach at Palace, and assistant manager Lennie Lawrence have been named as caretakers for tonight’s NPower Championship match at Barnsley.

Palace confirmed that Freedman was leaving for the Reebok Stadium after the 38-year-old Scot held talks with Bolton earlier on Tuesday.

“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,” a statement issued by Palace said.

“The search for a replacement starts immediately.”

A fan favourite from his two spells as a Palace player and a stint as reserve team manager, Freeman took charge of the first team in January 2011.

Palace are currently fourth in the Championship with six wins from their opening 11 games, six points ahead of mid-table Bolton.

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