Jol exits ´wonderful club´ Ajax

Ajax boss Martin Jol has left Eredivisie club by mutual consent, fuelling rumours of a move to English Premier League club Newcastle United.

Jol tendered his resignation at Amsterdam ArenA on Monday, two days after leading Ajax to a 1-1 draw with NEC Nijmegen.

That result saw last term’s runners-up fall to fourth on the league table and five points adrift of leaders PSV Eindhoven.

Ajax’s early-season form has been a far cry from their campaign last term, when they finished one point behind champions Twente with an incredible plus-86 goal difference.

Jol, who only took over at the club in May last year, said expectations at Ajax were too high and undue criticism was fracturing the squad internally.

“With pain in my heart I say goodbye to this wonderful club,” Jol told Ajax’s official website.

“We started something last summer that I would have finished. But I have come to realise that the expectations after last season were too high.”

”We cannot meet such expectations. The amount of criticism that the club has had to endure daily has led to unrest in the club and among players.”

Ajax meet Serie A leaders AC Milan on Wednesday in Group G of the Champions League, but are doomed to exit in the group stages following a disappointing campaign. A positive result, however, would hand the Dutch club a spot in the Europa League.

”I take this decision consciously before AC Milan v Ajax is played,” Jol, 54, said.

”The coming weeks are very important and I sincerely hope that something happens in the squad to make it in the short term a winning team.”

Former player and Holland international Frank de Boer will take temporary charge of the Amsterdam club until a replacement is found.

Jol’s resignation comes the same day as Newcastle boss Chris Hughton was sacked, with the Magpies board determined to find a replacement with ‘more managerial experience’.

Jol, who has experience in the Premier League with Tottenham, has been installed as an early favourite to take over at St. James’ Park.