Michael van Praag does not have to fear for his position as chairman of the supervisory board of Ajax for the time being. This is what Ernst Boekhorst, chairman of the board, says in front of the camera NOS. Van Praag has been under intense fire in recent weeks for his decision in the Alex Kroes case. The latter was suspended with immediate effect at the beginning of this month, but now returns as technical director.
Kroes started his new position in the Johan Cruijff ArenA on March 15, but the general manager was out again after less than three weeks. The Utrecht native purchased more than 17,000 Ajax shares a week before the publication of his proposed appointment and, according to the supervisory board, was therefore guilty of insider trading. Van Praag announced on the day of the suspension that the door remained closed for Kroes’ return. However, that went down the wrong way with many Ajax players. The criticism increased and Van Praag eventually reversed his decision: Kroes may return, but in a different position.
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The board is happy with that. “In good times you don’t hear anything from the board and that’s good too. But in bad times you have to do the right thing. That is quite difficult, because there are people in this association who are active for the NV and work day and night at Ajax. Then it is sometimes difficult to make decisions, but we did that. I think we were able to play our role well,” says chairman Boekhorst of the board of directors, a major shareholder. “The best thing for Ajax is that we can move forward. We have been at quite an impasse in recent weeks. Alex laid out a clear plan upon his appointment and he also discussed it with the board of directors. You would prefer to continue that.”
According to Boekhorst, it is now ‘best’ for Ajax that Kroes can return to the organization and ‘play his role on a technical level’. Van Praag also agreed with a return of Kroes, which he was initially strongly against. The honorary chairman apologized on Thursday evening during the newly scheduled members’ meeting at the De Toekomst sports complex. “I think that’s good, because when you work together, mistakes are made,” says Boekhorst. “Van Praag is honorary chairman of this association and if he does something for the association with the best intentions, then I believe him. If he apologizes for what happened or certain statements, then I think we should accept that and that also fits in with the fact that we want to move forward together.”
Het Parool wrote on Thursday afternoon that in addition to Annette Mosman, Georgette Schlick and Cees van Oevelen, Leo van Wijk and Van Praag will also resign from the supervisory board ‘in the foreseeable future’. But according to Boekhorst, Van Praag’s position was not discussed. “People have asked about the composition of the supervisory board and how that works. The board of directors has a clear role in this. We may nominate new supervisory directors and the supervisory board ultimately nominates them to take a seat on the supervisory board. We can come up with specific names that will contribute to Ajax.” For the time being, that role is also ‘normal’ reserved for Danny Blind, Van Wijk and Van Praag. “I’m talking about the three vacant positions that I thought were made available a week and a half ago,” it sounds.
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