June 20 2011

Dougie Freedman

Crystal Palace manager Dougie Freedman says he won't be held to ransom over player demands.

Free agent NEIL DANNS and former loanee Anthony Gardner are yet to take up contract deals made to them, while Freedman has made offers to a number of other targets.

With financial troubles from the past still fresh in people's minds, Freedman insists the club's wage structure will not be broken for new players.

"We have to stick to our limits," he told the Advertiser. "It's happened too many times before with this club and it went into administration and we will not be held to ransom by players, that's not going to happen again. We've made our offers and we are going to stick to them.

"Anthony's someone we would like to keep, but the financial situation is hard. There are other clubs interested and financially we can't match up, so I have to persuade him this is where he wants to be.

"He's one I want to try and keep here, so hopefully he will take it. It's more hope with him than being confident.

"We've offered as much as we think is fair [for DANNS]. He's not taken it up, but he's not refused it yet.

"The budget is not a lot, so I've got to wheel and deal and that might mean having to get one or two out to get one or two in. Financially it is hard."