Martin Jol On The Verge (Or Not!)

[White Noise]

Why Martin Jol is on the verge of quitting Ajax to succeed Roy Hodgson as Fulham manager

By Simon Cass Last updated at 10:48 PM on 20th July 2010


You can hardly blame Martin Jol for keeping Fulham on tenterhooks. The big Dutchman has had a lot to consider this week.

You do not decide on a whim to leave a club who have won the European Cup four times for a side who have qualified for Europe only twice, albeit acquitting themselves with distinction last season in reaching the Europa League final.
But with success like Ajax's comes high expectation. Jol is a wily old fox and the portents for Ajax are not good, as they need to sell star players with little prospect of the cash going back into the squad.


So Jol has assured Fulham he wants to join them, although negotiations over compensation were proving difficult last night.

Fulham chief executive Alistair Mackintosh remained in Amsterdam in an attempt to push through an agreement.

Sources in Holland insisted there was a £1.25million escape clause in Jol's contract, but Fulham last night claimed no such clause exists.
If Jol were to stay, he would be expected to improve on Ajax's second-place finish in the Dutch league last season.

Cult hero: Tottenham fans held Jol in high esteem
Understandably, he wanted to know what tools he would have to help. His desire to swap the rich modernity of the Amsterdam ArenA for the retro charm of Craven Cottage speaks volumes about the answers he got.
Jol's suspicion that Ajax are ill-equipped to challenge for major honours is, however, only part of the story. He would get a £20m transfer kitty from Fulham owner Mohamed Al Fayed to carry on Roy Hodgson's work.
For Jol, returning to the warm bed of the Barclays Premier League is about his reputation. His achievements at White Hart Lane mean he is seen as a talented manager on these shores.



In Holland, he is not held in such high esteem. With talented players at his disposal last season, Ajax fans were concerned as to why their team did not romp to the league title.

As in most European countries, victory in their domestic cup barely registers. Many in England see Jol as an example of why Premier League clubs turn to foreign coaches.

In Holland he is viewed as a rough fisherman's son with a 17th century pirate for an ancestor, whose only past success on home soil was in the Dutch cup with unfashionable Roda JC.

Now he has the chance to build his reputation in a league he loves, without interference.

At Fulham, Jol feels he will be left to get on with the job - as Hodgson was before him. His gripes at having to work with director of football Damien Comolli at Spurs are insignificant in comparison with the frustration he has felt at Ajax's hierarchy.

Big shoes to fill: former Fulham boss Hodgson
Much could be made of Jol's desire to avenge the manner of his departure from White Hart Lane nearly three years ago.

Of course Tottenham's clandestine pursuit of Juande Ramos - and the fact Jol was the last person to know he had been sacked as his team lost to Getafe in the UEFA Cup - still rankles.
He no doubt feels that, with the backing Harry Redknapp has had from Daniel Levy, and without Comolli sticking his nose in, he, too, could have led Spurs to the Champions League after two fifth place finishes. But a standing ovation from a club where he made his name as a manager will have far more weight for Jol than the chance to make a point to his old chairman.

He will be content with the task of trying to take Fulham to the next level, and the prospect of a job at a bigger English club if he does, while escaping the savage glare of the Ajax fans and Dutch media who have yet to be convinced of his credentials.

Managing Ajax was the fulfilment of a dream for Jol, and moving to the Amsterdam ArenA gave him the chance to prove his doubters wrong.

But to do so he needed to win the Dutch league. Having failed with such topclass talent as Gregory van der Wiel and Luis Suarez, his chances of succeeding without them have been damaged.

Taking that into account, Jol's decision to opt for the welcoming arms of Fulham and the Premier League is not that much of a surprise after all.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1296363/Why-Martin-Jol-verge-quitting-Ajax-succeed-Roy-Hodgson-Fulham-manager.html#ixzz0uGR9Sks9

[White Noise]

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11681_6272118,00.html


Fulham target Jol eyes funds


Ajax boss could stay in Holland if club allow him to spend


Last updated: 20th July 2010   


Fulham managerial target Martin Jol has indicated he is more likely to stay with Ajax if the Dutch giants find a way of bringing in new players.

Jol has been heavily linked with the vacant managerial post at Craven Cottage, but reports in Holland suggest he could remain with the Eredivisie club.

The former Tottenham manager is believed to be keen on a return to the Premier League, but compensation talks have stalled to put the switch on ice with Ajax refusing to budge.

The Dutchman took over as manager of the Amsterdam outfit last year but has been constrained in his role by the club's financial problems.

And in an interview with Dutch TV, Jol indicated one factor which could sway his future is if his current employers allow him to bring in fresh talent.

Spending
"We don't make offers to each other. It's not a matter of negotiating, more of how we solve the problem," said Jol, when asked if the club had made him an offer to stay at the helm.

"I see teams buying players and that's what Ajax should be doing. I know it's tough for Ajax to do that, but with some creativity we can do it."

Jol believes the constraints he is currently working under have only come to the fore in recent times after he was linked with a switch to the West London club.

"It hasn't been that long. I've been through this a lot in the last couple of months and it wasn't a problem," he added.

"And now it's news in the UK, it gets over here (to Holland) and things get hectic."

[White Noise]

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Bullish-Fulham-still-confident-of-landing-Martin-Jol-despite-Ajax-delaying-tactics-article532679.html


Bullish Fulham still confident of landing Jol despite Ajax delaying tactics

Published 23:00 20/07/10


By Darren Lewis



Bullish Fulham chiefs were last night confident of landing Martin Jol despite Tuesday's late bid from his club Ajax to scupper the deal.

On a day of drama, the west Londoners were left stunned by claims in Holland that the 54-year-old Dutchman had reneged on a deal to join them in a spectacular u-turn.

Fulham were then rocked by a refusal by Ajax to discuss compensation and the Dutch club going on to insist that Jol was not leaving.

During the impasse fuming Fulham insiders believe Ajax were using the time to try desperately to persuade Jol to stay.

It was then claimed that, following a board meeting, the Ajax board had given in to Jol's demands for cash to strengthen the squad.

But Fulham owner Mohamed Al Fayed was insistent last night that Jol was his man following the former Spurs boss's acceptance of a deal in principle at the weekend.

And Cottagers' chief executive Alistair Mackintosh last night remained in Amsterdam to try to conclude the deal.

Jol still has two years left on his contract and his exit will require Fulham to stump up around £1.2million in compensation.

But the board of last season's Europa League finalists are adamant that Jol is by far the best man for the job of continuing the outstanding job done by Roy Hodgson before his departure to Liverpool.

They were last night confident that Jol will still be able to join his new players on their 10-day pre-season tour of Sweden, where they arrived on Monday afternoon.

Fulham moved in last week to cash in on the initial breakdown in the relationship between Jol and Ajax which centred around transfer policy.

Jol had been told he was not able to recruit this summer until Holland right-back Gregory van der Wiel and Uruguay striker Luis Suarez had been sold to free up funds.

He was also angered by the release of Serbia striker Marko Pantelic and Denmark winger Dennis Rommedahl for nothing and feared he would not receive any money raised from the sale of further players.

But, following talks with financial director Jeroen Slop and chief executive Rik van den Boog, he was reportedly reassured he could bring in a cheap right-wing option and then spend more if the likes of Van der Wiel and Suarez left.



Read more: http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Bullish-Fulham-still-confident-of-landing-Martin-Jol-despite-Ajax-delaying-tactics-article532679.html#ixzz0uGSqqR5V
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[White Noise]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/jul/20/fulham-ajax-martin-jol


Fulham frustrated by Ajax's refusal to negotiate over Martin Jol

• Dutch club unwilling to release their manager

• Jol has told Ajax he wants to join London club
   
David Hytner guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 20 July 2010 21.21


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 today 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, 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 €20m (£16.9m) 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 the full-back Gregory van der Wiel to Bayern Munich, while Luis Suárez 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 over transfer targets and funds. The financial director, Jeroen Slop, and the chief executive, Rik van den Boog, have reportedly told him that he could have a greater percentage of the proceeds from the potential sales of Van der Wiel and Suárez to rebuild the squad.

Jol was quoted by today'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.

Perhaps the main attraction for Jol at Fulham would be a freer rein on transfers. Although Al Fayed never allots a specific budget for new signings, he is happy to allow his managers to suggest names to him and he has a history of backing them. His pockets have also been swelled by the £1.5bn sale of Harrods.

One of Jol's frustrations during his time at Tottenham Hotspur was the conflict over transfer policy with the then sporting director, Damien Comolli, while with his next job, at Hamburg, he was unhappy the club embarked on a spending spree after he had left. His job at Ajax has been made more difficult by the extravagant spending of his predecessor, Marco van Basten.

Fulham's players are on their pre-season tour of Sweden and they are preparing for Thursday's game against Halmstad, under the guidance of the caretaker manager Ray Lewington, from a position of uncertainty. Hodgson's departure has, inevitability, prompted a number of them to consider their futures but the capture of Jol has been billed as the big-name to appease them.

The new manager has a difficult act to follow as Hodgson oversaw the most successful period in Fulham's history. He guided them to the final of last season's Europa League, having 12 months previously taken them to a seventh-placed Premier League finish, the club's best finish in the top flight.

[White Noise]

Fulham need Jol to compete in the toughest Premier League ever

By Darren Lewis

Published 15:33 20/07/10

 
The Martin Jol thing is turning into a bit of a mess at Fulham.

But there is no doubt that, should he arrive at Craven Cottage, then next season's Premier League will be the toughest-ever in which to compete.

Ajax are fighting to keep him because they recognise the calibre of the man who took Spurs to two fifth-placed finishes and only missed out on Champions League football because of a dodgy lasagne.

Fulham owner Mohamed Al Fayed is ready to give Jol a £25million transfer kitty should he leave Ajax because he knows that, given the right backing, he can do the business.

Which is why it will be exciting times in English football's top division next season should Jol arrive.

The Big Four has now become a Big Seven if, to Manchester United, the dark side, Arsenal and Liverpool you add Manchester City, Spurs and Aston Villa.

Avram Grant will definitely improve West Ham. Everton are a force to be reckoned with every season under David Moyes - and then you'd have Jol's Fulham.

Al Fayed is determined to ensure next season that last year's Europa League finalists are not in the Premier League to make up the numbers. Throw in the north-east giants that are Sunderland and Newcastle and it is easy to see why every game will be a huge draw in the top division.

It will be hard to call the winner and even harder to say - hand on heart - which team will fill that fourth Champions League spot.

All you can say is that the World Cup will be a distant memory as we find out just why the Premier League is the most popular league on the planet.



Read more: http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/columnists/darren-lewis/Darren-Lewis-Column-Fulham-and-owner-Mohamed-Al-Fayed-need-Martin-Jol-of-Ajax-to-compete-in-the-toughest-Premier-League-ever-article531169.html#ixzz0uG5Q7DZK

[finnster01]

Even I am now at the gates of hell waiting for this Morris Dance back and forth to stop. I am at the point where even Iain Dowie would suffice. Just pick a manager please...I am so tired of this.

[Mr Fulham]

Even I am now at the gates of hell waiting for this Morris Dance back and forth to stop. I am at the point where even Iain Dowie would suffice. Just pick a manager please...I am so tired of this.

+1, amen :sir_roy:

[Lighthouse]

BBC WHO WERE FIRST TO PUT DOUBT ON JOL NOT JOINING US WHILE OTHERS WERE ALL SAYING HE WAS STAYING AT AJAX THIS MORNING

By David Ornstein 


Fulham will meet representatives of Dutch club Ajax on Wednesday in an attempt to negotiate a deal to allow Martin Jol to become their new manager.

The former Tottenham boss has told Ajax he wants to take over at Craven Cottage but his employers were reluctant to discuss a compensation package.

But BBC Sport understands Fulham chief executive Alistair Mackintosh is now to meet Ajax officials in Amsterdam.

Jol, 54, is said to be "excited" about joining the Premier League side.

Last season's Europa League runners-up have been without a manager since Roy Hodgson joined Liverpool on 1 July, but are hopeful of landing their number one target.

Ray Lewington was placed in temporary charge and remained at the helm as Fulham departed for their pre-season tour to Sweden on Monday.

They had hoped to unveil Jol before Thursday's friendly against Halmstads, but that will now depend on the outcome of Wednesday's meeting.

It was reported earlier on Tuesday that Jol, having indicated his desire to return to the Premier League following talks with Mackintosh, had performed a U-turn.

He was said to have had second thoughts after Ajax bowed to his demands on keeping hold of star players and providing funds for new signings.

606: DEBATE
I always thought that once Fulham met with Jol and knew he wanted to join they would get him

cottagecravens
Jol had been told he was not able to make summer acquisitions until Netherlands right-back Gregory van der Wiel and Uruguay striker Luis Suarez had departed to free up finances.

There were also suggestions that Dutch international goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg could leave the Amsterdam Arena.

When Jol quit Hamburg for Ajax in 2009 he made it his main mission to win the Eredivisie title for the first time since 2004 and brought in a number of his own staff, so he is thought to feel a responsibility to the four-time European champions.

Fulham owner Mohamed Al Fayed is reported to have offered Jol, who was sacked by Spurs in 2007 and still owns a house near London, a rolling contract, a bonus-related salary and a significant transfer budget to succeed Hodgson.


Fulham have been managerless since Roy Hodgson left for Liverpool
Ivory Coast coach Sven-Goran Eriksson had also been linked with the vacancy at Craven Cottage.

United States coach Bob Bradley and Switzerland's Ottmar Hitzfeld were other names in the running.

Eriksson is thought to have held talks with Fulham but the Swede revealed last week that he was considering a lucrative offer to stay on as Ivory Coast head coach.

Hitzfeld then ruled himself out of contention and a statement from the United States Soccer Federation outlined its intention to extend Bradley's contract.

Although Fulham reached the Europa League final in May, Ajax will be playing Champions League football in September providing they come through qualifying.

They were pipped to the Dutch league title last season by FC Twente, who were managed by former England boss Steve McClaren.