"The gaffer said to me that Leeds wanted me on loan, with a view to a deal being done," recalled Freedman. "I wasn't playing at the time because we were in the Premiership and we were playing 4-5-1 with just Andy Johnson up front. The gaffer was fair to me and said he thought it was a good opportunity for me to get regular football. He had already explained to me that I was more of a back-up striker as 4-5-1 was the way he wanted to go, and rightly so I think as it was our first season back in the top division.
"But despite not playing, the conversation lasted less than a minute. Although Leeds are a great big club, I wanted to stay at Palace.
"I didn't want to be in a situation where I left the club for a Division One side and always regretting it.
"I did that before, when I helped Palace go up, but then, after just three or four games in the Premiership, I left for Wolves who were in Division One. That has always been a regret of mine, and I didn't want to make the same mistake twice."