Freedman: No future in making short fixes

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Last May, they went into the final game of the season knowing defeat could have seen the club slip out of existence. One year on, Palace have a new set of owners and, in Dougie Freedman, their second manager of the past season, but survival was still only secured on the penultimate weekend with a point away to Hull.

Now it is a time to take stock and reflect on the mistakes that nearly cost them dear, notably the hiring of ex-Ipswich boss George Burley as manager, a decision which was rectified on New Year's Day.

However, it is clear that Freedman is here to stay and the club legend - he enjoyed two spells at Palace as a player - is equally adamant that the days of flirting with relegation to League One need to be brought to an end.

"This club has to start building strong foundations as we have been looking backwards for the last four or five years, to the point where we have nearly been relegated in the last two," said Freedman.

"We need to take stock and move on and I am so happy for the owners that we haven't gone down as they have saved the club.

"This has been the biggest challenge of my life, inside or outside of football.

"Many people, including members of my own family, told me I was mad to accept the job but I just felt this was my club and I couldn't let someone else take them down."

But how do Palace, who have suffered so much heartache in recent years, ensure they aren't talking about wasted opportunities again next season?

Freedman added: "We have to stop looking at the short term. We have to blood the right youngsters and, ultimately, we want to move to a new stadium in five years' time.

"We don't have millions to throw at the situation but the experience we all have after the past year will help us a lot.

"Myself, the owners and the fans love this club and we will do things the right way.

"Next season we need to consolidate what we have achieved over the last few months."

Top scorer: James Vaughan (9)

Star man: Nathaniel Clyne

Biggest win: 4-1 v Portsmouth (h)

Biggest defeat: 0-5 v Derby (a)

Highest attendance: 20,142 v Leeds (April 25)