Cruyff row sees Ajax board resign

The board of directors of Eredivise club Ajax resigned on Wednesday following a row with club legend Johan Cruyff.

Cruyff, who won multiple league and European titles with the club as a player in the 1960s and 70s, was invited to form a committee charged with providing advice on technical and financial issues.

The 63-year-old reportedly suggested wide-ranging changes, including the installation of former players Dennis Bergkamp and Wim Jonk as assistants to coach Frank de Boer, as well as recommending the dismissal of several long-term employees.

Chief Executive Rik van den Boog refused to implement all of the suggestions, but Chairman Uri Coronel did not feel the board was in a position to oppose Cruyff, who holds an extraordinary influence with supporters.

“The directors of Ajax find that the process, and particularly the resulting and ongoing turmoil surrounding the club, is extremely harmful to Ajax,” the directors said in a statement on the club’s website.

“I feel terrible,” Coronel said.

“Johan Cruyff’s not just anyone. He’s a demi god here or maybe a whole god. The only thing we got from him were dictates. Eight people were supposed to go. The management should decide about that.”

To avoid an impasse, Coronel and the entire supervisory board have resigned, including executive officers Cor van Eijden and Joop Krant.

Van den Boog is expected to continue until new management can be recruited and a new board elected by the Ajax members’ council.

The resignations are expected to result in Cruyff’s suggestions being implemented.

Ajax, who are third in the Eredivisie table, have not won the Eredivisie title since 2004.