Former Crystal Palace boss Dougie Freedman regrets leaving the club in 2012.

Freedman has admitted for the first time that he "made a mistake" leaving Crystal Palace in 2012 to take up the managerial role at Bolton Wanderers.

"It was the wrong decision and I do regret it – let me put that on record – it was by myself. Nothing was forced, it was a decision made by myself," Freedman told Holmesdale Radio.

"I will never hammer the football club because whatever I say could be taken out of context, that's my game at all.

"At the particular time of leaving, looking back, I sometimes question myself. I was strong-willed, hard-headed and ambitious, and I could not take a 'no'.

"I kind of thought I was King Kong and I could fight the world and that it was my way or no way. That was wrong of me."