Wapenaar announces legal steps against Ajax
13 June: Goalkeeper Harald Wapenaar has announced that he
will start a legal case against Ajax. The former FC Utrecht
goalkeeper claims that the Amsterdam club verbally promised him
a two year contract. However, Ajax unexpectedly and - according
to Wapenaar - illegally called the deal off. FC Twente's Sander
Boschker was contracted instead. Wapenaar claims that Ajax's
initial promise was legally effective. The KNVB arbitrator is
currently investigating the case.
Ajax started its quest for a third goalkeeper early this
year. Coach Ronald Koeman made clear that Bogdan Lobont is his
first man. However, Koeman wanted a new, preferably experienced
goalkeeper to compete with Maarten Stekelenburg for the 'number
two' position. FC Utrecht goalkeeper Harald Wapenaar (33), one
of the nine players to leave Utrecht at season's end due to the
club's financial problems, was the number one candidate.
Ajax reportedly offered him a two year contract in April,
giving Wapenaar a fixed number of weeks to think about the
offer. On 10 May, just as Wapenaar wanted to say 'yes', Ajax
told his agent that the deal was off. Sander Boschker,
departing goalkeeper of FC Twente, was signed a few weeks
later, on 05 June. Bochker lated admitted that he had already
reached an agreement with Ajax when the Amsterdammers played at
FC Twente on 25 May.
When Ajax cancelled the deal Wapernaar immediately announced
that he considered taking legal action against Ajax. However,
the goalkeeper stated, "I want to fully focus on my last games
for FC Utrecht first."
It is as yet unknown when the KNVB arbitrator will have
finished his investigations. (MP)
Source: ANP, NOS Teletekst, VI.nl
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