Ajax’s new CEO, Alex Kroes, has warned fans that the glory years are unlikely to return soon as he begins the task of rebuilding the crisis-hit club.

The 49-year-old, who took the reins last Friday, almost 10 months after the resignation of his predecessor Edwin van der Sar, said it was “unrealistic” to expect the team to challenge for next season’s Eredivisie title.

Ajax are currently in fifth place, 31 points behind leaders PSV and eight points adrift of Kroes’s former club AZ Alkmaar. Their best hope of playing in Europe next season is through the play-offs for the Conference League place.

“There are people who claim it will take four or five years for Ajax to become contenders for the title again,” Kroes told Ziggo Sport. “My contract is for three years and I want Ajax to be a title contender in that time.”

Kroes’s first task is to find a permanent replacement for interim head coach John van ‘t Schip, who has guided the team from the bottom of the league since taking over at the end of October.

Rebuilding squad

Among the names in the frame are youth team coach Dave Vos, Liverpool assistant coach Pepijn Lijnders, who is leaving the English club at the end of the season, and former AZ team boss Pascal Jansen.

Erik ten Hag, who left for Manchester United in 2022 after winning three consecutive league titles, is not thought to be considering a return, while former PSV coach Ruud van Nistelrooy is another outside choice.

Kroes will also take charge of rebuilding the squad in the summer, together with head of scouting Kelvin de Lange, who was behind the recruitment of England international midfielder Jordan Henderson in January.

“We need to make sure there is a better balance in the squad,” he said. “It’s going to be a difficult task, but we’ll do it together.”

Kroes wants to ensure there is no repeat of the feud between former director of football Sven Mislintat and coach Maurice Steijn, which overshadowed the first 10 games of the season.

Mislintat was sacked in September after an investigation was launched into his business relationship with an agent who acted for a player who joined the club in the summer, while Steijn was dismissed a few weeks later.

“The trainer is a very important sparring partner,” Kroes said. “If you buy a player for €15 million as director of football and the trainer doesn’t pick him, you’re wasting your investment.”