June 5 2012

Joel Ward

Crystal Palace new boy Joel Ward says DOUGIE FREEDMAN's vision for the future was a key factor in him signing.

The Eagles fought off interest from a number of other clubs to land the highly-rated defender from Portsmouth in a £400,000 deal last week.

And the 22-year-old revealed it was manager FREEDMAN who convinced him that Selhurst Park was the best place to play his football.

Ward told the Croydon Advertiser: "DOUGIE is a very ambitious man. He knows what he wants and he has got a vision for the club and how we will play.

"As a player you want to see that and you want to work with someone who has the desire to succeed and push on to bigger and better things.

"The manager likes hard-working, honest people and I will always give 100 per cent. What he is trying to create, and the ethos here, is fantastic.

"With all the unsettlement at Portsmouth, it is nice to know I am at a secure place to develop and keep progressing. I am really looking forward to the next chapter in my career."