The Appeal Court in Amsterdam has ruled that the Supervisory Board of troubled Ajax Football Club should not proceed with the appointment of Louis van Gaal and Martin Sturkenboom as directors. The ruling is a victory for Johan Cruyff.

The conflict arose when four of the five members of the Supervisory Board held a meeting without the knowledge of the fifth board member, Cruyff, and decided to appoint Van Gaal and Sturkenboom as directors. Cruyff went to court, but in December the court ruled that the appointments were valid, so Cruyff then appealed.

The Appeal Court judge ruled on Tuesday that it was unacceptable for the four - Steven ten Have, Edgar Davids, Marjan Olfers and Paul Römer - to act behind Cruyff's back. Also, the Appeal Court found that the meeting of 16 November, at which Cruyff was not present and the appointments were discussed, was arranged at too short notice. Moreover, the appointments were not on the agenda, which feeds the suspicion that the four had the preconceived plan to appoint Van Gaal and Sturkenboom without the knowledge of Cruyff.

Peter Wakkie, the lawyer for the four, has indicated that the Supervisory Board is considering pursuing the appointment of Louis van Gaal using a different, correct procedure.

(as/tt)

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