October 16 2002

Dougie Freedman

Crystal Palace players have decided to give up their bonuses for the rest of the season to help the club’s financial difficulties.

Simon Jordan this week sacked reserve coach Dave Swindlehurst, chief scout Barry Simmonds and office workers as part of a major cost-cutting exercise at the club.

He warned that players would have to take pay cuts when their deals run out. The players answered Jordan’s plea by volunteering to give up win and goal bonuses to help out the club.

Dougie Freedman told the Croydon Guardian: "The club are losing money every week, so the chairman has come to the players and asked us to help in some way, and we have helped him.

"The bonuses and the appearances and the goal bonuses have all been given up. The players have given up a lot of money monthly to help the club and I'm sure the chairman and fans will appreciate what we are doing to keep the club afloat."