DOUGIE Freedman has thrown his full backing behind a scheme which would see the Eagles leave their current Beckenham training ground.

The Crystal Palace Supporters Trust’s (CPST) plans to fund, build and own a new state-of-the-art training facility were given the green light on Saturday when its members voted unanimously in favour of the proposal.

But although their plans have only just been voted on, initial planning began back in the summer, with Freedman even having an input into the design.

The boss explained: “They’ve come up with a great design, I’m not trying to design it or anything like that.

“But I am looking to put one or two touches to the inside of the training ground in terms of what the layout should be and why it should be that way and to help the guys with things like transport links.

“Just certain things that I’ve often thought a club, especially in south London, has got to identify as necessities.”

Vice-chairman of the CPST Raj Chandarana has only praise for the role the new manager has played in the design process.

He said: “Dougie’s been absolutely fantastic.

“Most of the coaching staff discussions we had last year weren’t with George Burley, they were with Dougie.

“He has been our point man on this project in terms of the coaching staff to ensure the training facility we get is based on a model which he thinks is best for the club in the long-term.

“This is a once in a life time opportunity to get a state of the art training facility built for the club.”

The scheme stemmed from an original intention to buy the stadium when the club was in the grips of administration last year.

But after consultation with the new owners, it was decided to aim towards buying a new training ground for the club instead.

Chandarana explains: “We had a discussion with the owners when they bought the club in the summer and we were looking at ways the trust and fans in general could play a greater role in helping the club.

“It was Steve Parish who suggested this scheme as something we might want to do bearing in mind where they train at the moment is too small for their more ambitious needs and also that they’re paying an exorbitant amount of rent.

“We’ve had various meetings and in the autumn we kicked things off with discussions with the coaching staff about the kinds of requirements they had.”

The Trust have since conducted feasibility studies, concluding it will cost an estimated £3m to £4m and after Satrday’s successful vote, they can now begin the process of raising the funds.

They hope to raise the bulk of the funds through either a loan notes scheme or through community bonds which would see a return for investors through interest payments of three per cent on the club’s rental of the complex.

But all areas are being investigated, according to Chandarana.

He explained: “We’re looking for the best model for a range of different investors, whether it be a small investor, a fan who wants to put in £1,000 or £500, or more affluent fans who could maybe put some money in and have the gym named after them.

“There’s going to be different things to suit different people.”

And the former Croydon Councillor sent out a plea for support to his fellow Palace supporters to secure the funding for the project bearing in mind it will be a major part of the club’s future.

Chandarana said: “History tells us our club’s turbulent history has often been rooted in property, whether it be not owning the ground or selling off assets in a reckless fashion.

“So my plea to fans would be that this is a really solid model which is backed not only by the trust, but also by these businessmen who are the owners of the club, who know what they are talking about.

“And they wouldn’t enter into an agreement with the Trust if they didn’t think it would work and if they didn’t think it was good for the club.

“It’s going to be a place where the players of both today and tomorrow in terms of the academy will play, train and learn their trade.”

Meanwhile, Freedman sees the move as a continued sign of the positive feeling around the club and another step towards the fans becoming more involved.

The Eagles chief revealed: “There’s a real good-feel factor and this is the way we want it to run from now on.

“I want the fans to be involved in pretty much everything in terms of training grounds, grounds and right up until the selection of the team.

“It is nice to hear what the fans are thinking and saying because it’s an all round big effort and that’s the way this club should be and I want it done that way.

“The only thing that everyone needs to respect is that I pick the team and pick the players and they should know that I do it for the best of the club.”

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