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Michael van Praag has said that he is not shocked by the criticism from some Ajax fans. A group of supporters have already indicated in recent Ajax matches that they would like to see the chairman of the Supervisory Board leave, but according to Van Praag, that is completely out of the question.
Alex Kroes started as general manager at the Amsterdam club in March, but was suspended two weeks later by the Supervisory Board. He was accused of insider trading because he bought shares in the club just before his official appointment. Van Praag then spoke harshly about Kroes several times and ruled out his return to Ajax.
That return came on Thursday, as Kroes will start working for the Amsterdam team as titular technical director. This further increases the cry for Van Praag's departure among Ajax supporters. Van Praag is not worried about that.
“It is a very Dutch reaction,” said Van Praag in conversation with AT5. “If there is something going on that you do not agree with, the other person should just fuck off immediately,” he refers to the situation with some of the Ajax supporters. “Well, that's completely out of the question.”
“We have made a decision based on legal advice. As a Supervisory Board you should also do that. Being a commissioner carries a certain responsibility that is not always the same as Michael van Praag as an Ajax member,” said the Supervisory Board chairman.
“As an Ajax member, Michael van Praag might have wanted very different things, but that's not what I'm here for. I have a certain responsibility, not only to Ajax but also to other shareholders. And that requires such a decision to suspend Kroes,” said Van Praag.
“The outside world doesn't understand that. They say: 'Shame on Praag, let him get the hell out of here'. But this is inherent to being on the Supervisory Board of a listed company. That is different from making a decision at a tennis club,” Van Praag concludes.
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