McGinlay: Freedman would be a gamble, but one worth taking?
11:54am Sunday 21st October 2012 in Sport By Marc Iles
Wanderers legend John McGinlay admits he has been impressed by what Dougie Freedman has achieved in his short Crystal Palace career – but wonders whether his lack of experience could be a stumbling block.
Writing in his exclusive column for The Bolton News this week, the Scot picked out 38-year-old Freedman as one of a handful on names on his own shortlist for the vacant managerial slot.
And McGinlay – who is due to arrive back in the UK this week after eight years coaching in the US – believes there would be an element of gamble if Wanderers were to install the Glaswegian.
“Dougie is someone I played with for Scotland, where he had just come up from the Under-21s.,” he said. “It’s hard not to be impressed by what he’s done at Palace with a limited budget, and there’s no question that he’s brought through a few really good young players in that team.
“But like Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, has he really been put under any pressure?
“It would be a gamble at the moment to put in an un-tested manager and even though he’s been going great guns this season, it might be a little too early for Dougie.
“You also wonder what the compensation would be to bring him in though. It might have been cheaper to sign Wilfried Zaha last summer!”
Wanderers have confirmed that an approach for the former Scotland international was made last week and that they are waiting on a response from Palace as to his availability.
Freedman has seven months remaining on his contract at Selhurst Park.
