July 1 2005

Dougie Freedman

Dougie Freedman has agreed a two-year extension to his Crystal Palace contract.

The striker only played a bit-part role in the Premiership last season as boss Iain Dowie mostly played Andy Johnson alone up front.

But Dowie has assured Freedman he has a future at Palace and the Scot was overjoyed to re-sign at the club where he's played his best football.

"I'm very delighted to sign. I always wanted to re-sign but didn't think the opportunity would be there," he told the South London Press.

"But the manager spoke very highly of me which was very encouraging and I think the world of him and Crystal Palace, where I’m very attached. So to say I'm delighted is an understatement.

"My happiest times have been at Palace and hopefully I'll continue to be happy. I feel very at home playing in a Palace shirt and hopefully that won't change."

Freedman has netted 95 goals in his Palace career but is not too concerned of hitting the magic 100 mark.

"People tell me more about it than I think about it," he said. "My aim is for us to get promotion and to play as well as I can. It isn't a target of mine to get 100 goals. My aim is for promotion and for us to at least stay in the top six for most of the season."