Ajax CEO and executive board director Alex Kroes said he feels that his suspension by Ajax for insider trading is a case of the club's supervisory board members trying to push him out. Ajax announced on Tuesday that Kroes was suspended with immediate effect for purchasing 17,000 shares of the club, which is publicly traded, a week before the announcement that he was set to become their new CEO.
Ajax reportedly have Arsenal and Manchester United assistant managers Albert Stuivenberg and Mitchell van der Gaag on their shortlist to become their next boss.
A missed penalty by Santiago Gimenez on Sunday against FC Twente at home proved costly as the Rotterdammers were held to a 0-0 draw. The draw means that the reigning champions are now 12 points behind PSV in the Eredivisie table.
FC Twente lost on Saturday to NEC Nijmegen in the Eredvisie. A goal from Calvin Verdonk continued the home side's good form after the winter break. Rogier Meijer's side had drawn 2-2 in de Kuip against Feyenoord last weekend. Koki Ogawa had gotten away from the Twente defence several times as Joseph Oosting's side struggled to create any meaningful offense. Verdonk's winner was a beauty a free kick from around thirty yards, which went straight into the top corner. Lars Unnerstall had no chance with his dive.
FC Twente beat AZ Alkmaar on Saturday evening in the Grolsch Veste to increase the gap to four points between the two sides. Manfred Ugalde was the hero for Joseph Oosting’s side, scoring twice after an early goal by Jens Odgaard had given the Alkmaarders the lead. The young Danish striker stuck a leg out to divert Mayckel Lahdo’s inch-perfect cross into the net after just three minutes played in the match. It was Odgaard’s first goal in 15 league matches this season.