Ajax have sacked manager Alfred Schreuder following a winless run in the Eredivisie.
The Dutchman was appointed in the summer after Erik ten Hag left for Manchester United, but he hasn't been able to live up to the same expectations set by his predecessor.
Ajax have failed to win in their last seven league games, with their 1-1 draw with lowly Volendam marking the final straw for the the Eredivisie club's board.
The result has left Ajax in fifth in the Dutch top-flight, as well as putting them seven points adrift of leaders Feyenoord and five points off the top two Champions League spots.
Speaking about the move to try to stop the club's rot and sack Schreuder, Ajax chief executive Edwin van der Sar said: "This is a painful decision, but it's necessary.
"Regardless of the good start to the season, we lost a lot of unnecessary points. The football itself was precarious, too."
The reigning Eredivisie champions' last win was a 3-1 victory against Rangers in the Champions League on 1 November.
However, they failed to reach the last 16 of the competition and have dropped down into the Europa League.
After the win against Rangers, they then lost one game and drew six games on the bounce.
Ajax also sold winger Antony and defender Lisandro Martinez last summer, with Ten Hag bringing them with him to Old Trafford.
Meanwhile, striker Sebastien Haller, midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, left-back Nicolas Tagliafico and defender Daley Blind also left the club under Schreuder's tenure.
Under Ten Hag, Ajax won three league titles from 2017 to his departure in the summer, as well as two Dutch Cups and the Dutch Super Cup.
But despite having big shoes to fill and the club selling many of their stars, Van der Sar believes Schreuder still could have succeeded in the role.
"We gave Alfred our time and trust to change the way things were going. It became clear to us that he could not change the tide," Van der Sar said.
"Regardless of the many transfers that took place, we consider the squad fit for a championship. We lost a lot of points over the last few weeks and sadly saw a lack of progression."
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