United chairman Ken Bates brought a halt to talk of Freedman returning to Leeds for a second time by insisting the club no longer had any intentions of luring the 34-year-old away from London on a permanent basis.

Freedman has been linked with a transfer to Elland Road throughout the summer having finished last season on loan with Leeds, but the striker has had no contact with United since the League One play-off final and Bates' comments appear to spell the end of Gary McAllister's interest.

Bates said: "Dougie did a good job for us last season, there is no doubt about that.

"But he's 34, is an east London boy, he's got four kids, is happily married and he's obviously not going to move his family up here for what would be only a one or two-year contract. It would not be fair to ask him to live in a hotel for 12 months.

"We have to look forward not back. Our future is in youth."

Freedman is out of favour at Palace and is free to leave after 10 years with the Championship club, and he is unlikely to play any part in next week's Carling Cup second-round tie between Leeds and Palace at Elland Road.

He has not featured in any of the squads named by Neil Warnock this season and despite having 12 months left on his contract at Selhurst Park, Freedman would not command a transfer fee if he moves on during the current transfer window.

English clubs have an extra 24 hours to negotiate and tie up transfers this summer after the deadline was extended by a day to September 1 – due to August 31 falling on a Sunday – and Freedman confirmed to the YEP that he remained seriously interested in any offer put to him by Leeds before the window closes.

Freedman said: "I've said on many occasions before that I really enjoyed my time at Leeds, and I'd definitely consider the chance to go back.

"I've no idea what will happen before the end of the month but you never say never in football. If Leeds did want me then I'd definitely be open to the move, no question."

McAllister confirmed during the close-season that he still retained an interest in re-signing Freedman, who scored six goals in 14 appearances for Leeds on the way to the League One play-off final, but United recruited two other strikers – Enoch Showunmi and Luciano Becchio – earlier in the summer.

Tresor Kandol remains on United's books, though he was allowed to join Millwall on a six-month loan this month and is expected to leave Leeds permanently when that agreement expires, and McAllister still has a large squad on his hands.

Freedman chose to delay a decision on his future until after his testimonial with Palace, which was staged on July 29, but the opening stages of the season have made it clear that he will not feature in Warnock's first-team plans this term.

United were never likely to present him with a long-term contract at the age of 34, and Freedman is not willing to take up another loan spell at Elland Road.

Southend, meanwhile, have abandoned plans to sign Leeds midfielder Jonathan Douglas after their interest was dampened by the potential cost of landing him on loan.

Ends