Former Crystal Palace manager Dougie Freedman has returned to the club as sporting director, five years after leaving the club to join Bolton Wanderers.
The 43-year-old, who was sacked from his last post as Nottingham Forest manager in March last year, was the subject of heavy criticism from Palace fans we he left the side, then in the top four of the Championship, for bottom half Bolton.
New manager Frank de Boer has always worked with a sporting director alongside him, and has revealed he made a point of getting one in at Selhurst Park.
“I always worked with a Sporting Director during my time as manager at Ajax and I felt this was a position the club needed,” De Boer told the club’s website.
“I am looking forward to working with Dougie in this transfer window and beyond.”
Palace chairman Steve Parish also added that he hopes the appointment can help further establish the club in the Premier League after last season’s relegation scare.
"This is a position I have been looking to fill for a while,” said Parish.
“Someone to work with the manager, myself and Head of Recruitment, Tim Coe on all the footballing aspects of the club.
"I’m delighted that Dougie has agreed to accept the position and look forward to continuing Crystal Palace’s progression to become a solid Premier League club with the right infrastructure.”
