Graham Potter snubs job offer with Erik ten Hag succession plan left in tatters
Graham Potter has decided against becoming the new head coach of Ajax following talks with the Dutch giants.
Potter, 48, has been unattached since being sacked by Chelsea back in April 2023 but has been linked with a variety of different roles in recent months both in the Premier League and overseas.
Ajax, one of the Englishman’s suitors, placed John van’t Schip in charge on an interim basis after sacking Maurice Stejin back in October. The struggling Eredivisie outfit had identified Potter as their primary target to take the club forward next season – but he’s rebuffed their interest.
The Athletic have outlined that Potter, following talks with the Ajax hierarchy, has turned down the opportunity to take the reins in Amsterdam despite being impressed by the project put forward.
Missing out on Potter’s services represents another setback for Ajax, who have endured a turbulent two-year period since losing the services of Erik ten Hag to Manchester United back in the summer of 2022. The Dutchman won three league titles during his spell in charge but Ajax haven’t looked even remotely like repeating that feat in his absence.
Ten Hag’s replacement, Alfred Schreuder, lasted just six months in the role before being sacked in January 2023. Including Van’t Schnip, Ajax have since had four different head coaches across the period since Ten Hag moved to England.
Intriguingly, Ten Hag has been linked with a return to Ajax amid his current issues at Manchester United, where his long-term future remains unclear.
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Erik ten Hag
After helming a promising maiden season, Ten Hag has overseen one of the worst campaign’s in the club’s recent history with United currently running the risk of missing out on qualifying for Europe altogether next year.
Plenty of high-profile coaches have been linked with the Red Devils in recent month in lieu of Ten Hag’s struggles including Potter, who is thought to be admired by Ineos chief and Manchester United part-owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
Ratcliffe has so far failed to endorse Ten Hag publicly and there is an expectation that United will opt to part company with their beleaguered manager later this month if they end the season without qualifying for Europe.
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