New Bolton boss Dougie Freedman calls for players to play with freedom

Dougie Freedman: Will bring his own brand of football to Wanderers

New Bolton boss Dougie Freedman will encourage his players to express themselves and play with freedom.

The former Scotland striker left Crystal Palace last week to fill the managerial vacancy left by Owen Coyle - and revealed he spoke to his compatriot about how best to set out his stall at the Reebok Stadium.

Freedman said: "I spoke to Owen last week and he told me what I had to hear. "He told me 'you have a great group of lads but who are underperforming and probably need a different voice with different ideas.'

"He is a good man and you have got to respect his views. I normally have a weekly catch-up with him - it's that old Scottish connection. So, I did speak to him before I said 'yes' but I wasn't calling to get a 'yes' I was calling for a general catch-up.

"He said 'I hear you are in for the job' and he told me what the club was about. Owen Coyle is a good man but his ideas as a coach and a manager are different from mine.

"I believe in the way I play the game and my philosophy on it, how I give people opportunities and play with a no fear factor."

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