By Chris Wright
Former Scotland manager George Burley has been officially sworn in as the new manager of Championship side Crystal Palace.
Burley returns to club management for the first time in two years, since leaving Southampton to manager the Scottish national side in 2008.
Former Palace striker Dougie Freedman will remain at the club in the assistant manager’s role.
Speaking after being unveiled by Steve Parish and Martin Long (the co-chairmen of the CPFC 2010 consortium that stepped in to save the club from liquidation), the man himself said;
“It’s a privilege to be here. Everyone in football, especially Crystal Palace fans, are pleased the CPFC 2010 consortium came in to save the club.
I’m sure it was an anxious time, but on the last day of the season [Palace beat Sheffield Wednesday to avoid relegation to League One] the spirit from players and fans shone through.
This has always been a club I have respected and now it’s time to rebuild.
Being in administration hasn’t been easy but I’m looking forward to the challenge and I’m excited about it. We want to build a club that won’t get into that position again.
I’m glad to be back in club football. It’s great to be back and hopefully I can take the club back to the Premier League.”
Burley will succeed Paul Hart at the Selhurst Park helm, who was put in temporary charge of the Eagles for the remainder of last season.