LENNIE Lawrence is confident Crystal Palace will climb the table after agreeing to become Dougie Freedman’s assistant manager.

Lawrence will bring plenty of experience to the role after clocking up more than 1,000 games in the dugout over the years and arrives at Selhurst after Hereford agreed to allow him to leave his role as technical director at Edgar Street.

He told News Shopper: “I’m delighted to be joining Crystal Palace as assistant manager and am looking forward to the challenge ahead.

“I want to contribute to Palace climbing the table and making sure the club preserve their Championship status, something I firmly believe we will be able to do.

“Dougie is someone I’ve known for a while but we’ve never worked together before.

“I’ve been around for a while and he obviously thought my experience would be a useful addition bearing in mind he is a young manager.”

Lawrence is no stranger to Selhurst Park having been Charlton’s manager during their six-year exile in SE25 from 1985 to 1991.

Today’s appointment is certain to infuriate some Addicks fans who would have regarded him as a legend but Lawrence was keen to point out he is in football to make a living.

He said: “I am a professional and not a fan.

“Of course I have a strong connection with Charlton but it was 20 years ago now.

“If some supporters aren’t happy about it then there is not really much I can do.

“I just hope they can see in time this is a professional decision I have made.”

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