Ajax have confirmed that Dennis Bergkamp has been sacked from his position as assistant coach.

The decision, overseen by director of football and fellow ex-Gunner Marc Overmars and ex-Manchester United keeper Edwin van der Sar, sees the 48-year-old leave his boyhood club alongside fellow assistant Hennie Spijkerman and head coach Marcel Keizer.

Bergkamp has been coaching at Ajax since 2011. A ‘difference of opinion’ about the implementation of technical policy was cited as the reason for the sackings.

A statement from chief executive Van der Sar reads: “We had a bad summer and a messy start to the season. From a sporting point of view, European elimination (from the Champions League preliminaries) was the low point.

“Marc Overmars and I have frequently spoken in the months afterwards about the permanent volatility of the first team.

“We are not confident that we will achieve the level that we are striving for with Ajax in this way. We regret this.

“Together with the supervisory board, we as management have not made the decision overnight and are grateful to Marcel, Dennis and Hennie for their efforts for the club.”

Might there be room for Dennis Bergkamp at London Colney? There has already been a raft of changes to the backroom staff in recent months with Raul Sanllehi set to join as ‘not director of football’ , Sven Mislintat taking over the scouting operations, Huss Fahmy taking on contract responsibilities and Per Mertesacker due to head up the Academy from the summer.

Come on Ivan, it’s Christmas…we dare you to make us happy.