L'Ajax exonerates John Heitinga

Ajax has exonerated coach John Heitinga, who is paying for the Dutch club&#8217s disastrous start to the season. After four days he is last in the Champions League standings and only fourth in the Dutch league after 11 days.

“Ajax is looking for a new coach. In the meantime, assistant coach Fred Grim will take over Heitinga”s duties, the Lancers announced in a statement. Heitinga&#8217s contract, signed for two and a half years in May, will be terminated, Ajax confirmed.

“We know that it takes time for a new coach to work with a team that has undergone changes”, said the club’s technical director, Alex Kroes, who admitted that it was a “painful decision”.

“We have given John time, but we believe it is better for the club to appoint someone else to lead the team” the executive added. Kroes submitted his resignation, but the board asked him to stay on to ensure continuity.