October 18 2001

Dougie Freedman

Dougie Freedman and the rest of the Palace squad have urged Steve Bruce to stay at the club and not take the Birmingham City job.

Bruce is Birmingham's first choice to take over at St Andrews but the Palace players understandably want Bruce, who has guided the team to second in the league, to stay at the club.

Freedman said: "Of course we want Steve to stay. He has done a lot, not only for me but also for the team.

"He's hungry for success and you can see that in everything he does. We have got good players here and Steve is making two or three finishing touches to a team which is doing well."

Jamie Smith is also enjoying his time at the club under Bruce and signed a four-year contract in the summer.

He said: "I'm enjoying my football again. What with administration and then the relegation fight last season, it wasn't always happy times and there was a lot of nonsense with the players.

"All the players are enjoying working with Steve Bruce and he is getting the best out of us."