The reason for the 48-year-old Potter to immediately reject that first offer is that Ajax did not come close to the salary he had in mind. This means that the cost-cutting top club will have to go much further to recruit the top candidate for the coaching post.
Potter now sees the sporting side of a move to Amsterdam. The former Brighton and Chelsea manager met Alex Kroes last year during his tour of England. After the general manager officially started at Ajax on March 15, he immediately continued discussions with Potter in Amsterdam, flanked by football director Marijn Beuker and head of scouting Kelvin de Lang.
Kroes’ suspension did not prevent Ajax from continuing to bet on the Briton, also because he is considered to have a greater chance of a sporting resurrection than with the available Dutch candidates.
Technical advisor Louis van Gaal also experienced this this month in a meeting with Potter, who in turn increasingly welcomed the challenge of pushing Ajax up nationally and internationally in the coming years. However, in order to start that mega job, Potter demands a much better offer from Ajax. The number five in the Premier League can also switch to other candidates.
Negotiations
On Thursday, Supervisory Board chairman Michael van Praag reversed the planned dismissal of Alex Kroes. Pending the outcome of the AFM investigation into suspicion of insider trading, he may now return to the position of technical director, albeit without signing authority.
This also makes Potter’s entrance more realistic, although he will also keep a close eye on how the administrative crisis in Amsterdam continues to develop.
Tags: Graham Potter dismisses Ajaxs offer salary close demands
