Ajax refusing to agree to Jol's switch to Fulham

MARTIN JOL’S proposed move to Fulham has encountered a problem, with Ajax refusing to negotiate with the London club over the manager’s release. Alistair Mackintosh, Fulham’s chief executive, was in Amsterdam yesterday in an attempt to close the deal but he has been frustrated by the Dutch club’s stance.

Fulham remain hopeful they will be able to name Jol as the successor to Roy Hodgson, who has left to manage Liverpool, because the Dutchman has told them that he wants to join them. They have also been satisfied that Jol has told Ajax it is his intention to move to Craven Cottage.

Mohamed Al Fayed, the Fulham chairman, whose fortune has been boosted by the €1.78 billion sale of Harrods, is driving the deal and he remains determined to get his man. Ajax, however, do not want to lose Jol, who led them to second place in last season’s Eredivisie and success in the Dutch Cup, and they have dug in their heels.

Ajax have recorded losses of €20 million and, to Jol’s disgust, have released the striker Marko Pantelic and the midfielder Dennis Rommedahl this summer in the first phase of a cost-cutting scheme.

They are set to sell full-back Gregory van der Wiel to Bayern Munich, while Luis Suarez could also be moved on. The Uruguay striker, who scored 49 goals for Ajax last season, has a close relationship with Jol.

Jol has expressed his frustration at being asked to win the Dutch title with one hand metaphorically tied behind his back but Ajax hope they can persuade him to stay and pacify him with concessions.

The financial director, Jeroen Slop, and the chief executive, Rik van den Boog, have reportedly told him he could have a greater percentage of the proceeds from the potential sales of Van der Wiel and Suarez to rebuild the squad.

Jol was quoted by yesterday’s edition of the Amsterdam newspaper De Telegraaf as saying Fulham “were interested but, in principle, I’m staying at Ajax”, which prompted bewilderment in west London, where the assumption was the comment had to be some sort of political manoeuvring for the benefit of his countrymen.