‘Players want to know where they stand’

Dick Advocaat has lashed out at ADO Den Haag’s decision-makers. He did so Monday night after the lost game against Jong Ajax (4-2), which puts the playoffs definitely out of sight, in front of ESPN’s camera.

“Many players have families and want to know if their contract will continue,” the 75-year-old coach was critical. “If it doesn’t go through, they should be able to continue looking at another club.”

Advocaat, who is parting ways with ADO after this season, believes there should be more openness at the club. “It’s not just ADO, but the people who pay the money. And they also determine. Hopefully now they have the opportunity to tell everything. Now we know we won’t make the playoffs, so tell the story…”

“Now they have to concentrate on next season. Hopefully they won’t make the same mistakes that happened now,” he continued.

“You don’t hear and see the policy makers from America, Spain and England anymore. You taste that players want to know where they stand. Three or four weeks have passed in which they haven’t heard anything. I think that is a shame. I haven’t heard anything for the last four weeks either. I’m fine with it, but let the people who need to know know know.”

Advocaat, however, has no regrets about taking over from the sacked Dirk Kuijt last winter. “Don’t regret it, I can’t blame the boys for not trying. We were just short of quality this season.”