体坛英语新闻：Ajax's supervisory board and directors step down

THE HAGUE, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- After months of unrest the supervisory board of Ajax has decided to resign, the Amsterdam based club said on Thursday.

The resignation will take effect in the shortest possible time, once successors are found with broad support, the club said.

The board, consisting of Steven ten Have (chairman), Edgar Davids, Marjan Olfers, Paul Romer and club legend Johan Cruijff, was appointed on July 25, 2011.

Since the start of their appointment four members of the board had disagreements with fifth member Cruijff on, among other issues, appointments of directors.

In November 2011 the four members appointed Van Gaal as new general director starting on July 1, 2012, and Blind and Sturkenboom as respectively interim technical and general directors.

But these decisions were taken without the consent of Cruijff, so the Amsterdam court of appeal on Tuesday ruled the appointment of Van Gaal invalid.

Interim directors Danny Blind and Martin Sturkenboom also announced their departure with immediate effect.

"I have a clear vision on the future of Ajax, which was related to a possible arrival of Louis van Gaal," Blind said. "Since he is not coming, I cannot continue as well."

"The club has a great need for rest," Sturkenboom said. "Danny and I take our responsibility by creating space."

The resignation of the five commissioners will be done in phases, due to contractual provisions and financial interests of Ajax. Cruijff will probably get an advisory role at the club.

The extraordinary general meeting, scheduled on Friday, is now cancelled. In this meeting the members of the supervisory board could have been dismissed.