Ajax chief Pier Eringa steps down after only six months just HOURS before De Klassieker clash with Feyenoord restarted having been abandoned on Sunday with furious fans throwing flares onto the pitch
- Ajax have only won one game in the Eredivisie this season under Maurice Steijn
- The De Klassieker clash with Feyenoord resumed on Wednesday after four days
- Mail Sport’s new WhatsApp Channel: Get the breaking news and exclusives here
Ajax chief Pier Eringa has stepped down from his role, announcing the news just hours before the resumption of De Klassieker against Feyenoord on Wednesday.
Ajax are currently in the middle of an early-season crisis, having won just a single game in the Eredivisie at the start of the 2023-24 campaign under manager Maurice Steijn.
To make matters worse, their recent clash with arch-rivals Feyenoord was called to a halt not once but twice at the Johan Cruyff Arena on Sunday when the game was finally abandoned in the 56th minute with the visitors 3-0 up.
Despite claims from the record-winners that the match could only be rearranged for November at the earliest, the game resumed behind closed doors on Wednesday, with Feyenoord completing the rout with a fourth goal.
Eringa’s resignation comes after only six months in his position, having started his tenure as member and chairperson of the Supervisory Board of AFC Ajax on March 14.
Ajax chief Pier Eringa (centre) stood down as chair of club’s Supervisory Board on Wednesday
Eringa took up his position just over six months ago – and will formally depart on October 2
The Godenzonen resumed their De Klassieker clash with rivals Feyenoord behind closed doors
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‘Especially when things are not going well, I think one should be there as a supervisor,’ announced Eringa.
‘But I am not deaf to criticism, and I am not blind to the situation Ajax is in right now. Due to that reason, I have decided to make room for a new chairperson.
‘I have fought hard for the club. I will continue to follow Ajax as a fan and wish Ajax’s sporting successes will soon reach the desired level again.’
He will formally finish his stay on October 2, with his responsibilities being handed over in the interim period.
The Dutch giants are also without Champions League football having finished outside of the top two in the top-flight last term for the first time since 2008-09.
Ajax have made a miserable start to the new Eredivisie season, winning just once as they sit 14th in the table
Dutch police were seen using tear gas to disperse crowds that gathered outside of the stadium after the game had been suspended
Ajax’s suspended fixture against Feyenoord was played on Wednesday afternoon after crowd trouble on Sunday
The abandoned match on Sunday marked what Steijn called ‘a black day’ in Ajax’s history
Some supporters tried to break back into the stadium after the game had been suspended, causing damage to the ground as they began to vandalise their own stadium.
Police then used tear gas to disperse crowds that gathered outside the Johan Cruyff Arena, with videos appearing online that seemed to show some fans attempting to break into the stadium.
Ajax distanced themselves from the behaviour of the fans involved in the disorder, offering ‘heartfelt apologies’ to supporters caught up in the mayhem.
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