This crisis at Ajax continues to grow, with the Dutch giants now just two points from the foot of the Eredivisie table.

Used to competing at the top end of the division, Maurice Steijn's men are winless in their last six outings in all competitions.

Director of football Sven Mislintat has already been sacked and there is now talk that Steijn could follow him. 

As club chiefs take stock of their spiralling issues, we take a look at what is going wrong and possible solutions.

Steijn decision

Steijn was hired after a promising campaign with Sparta Rotterdam but has looked out of his depth at the Johan Cruyff Arena.

Since an opening weekend victory over Heracles, Ajax have picked up two points from five matches — a sequence that featured an embarrassing home fixture with Feyenoord.

That clash was postponed after fans threw fireworks on to the pitch, eventually going down 4-0 after the game was re-started four days later.

In the Europa League, draws with Marseille and AEK Athens have done nothing to cool the ire of the home support.

Internal discussions are said to be ongoing regarding the merits of dismissing Steijn and bringing in a replacement. 

There has been some speculation that Louis van Gaal could take temporary charge, having rejoined the club in an advisory role as a director. 

Yet the legendary manager has rejected that notion, as he recovers from prostate cancer, stating: "My health comes first." 

Recruitment woes

There is always the chance that a new manager can turn results arounds but Ajax's problems run much deeper. 

Since the departure of Marc Overmars in February 2022, the club's famously smooth recruitment process has gone askew. 

Under Mislintat's direction, Ajax spent close to £100million over the summer, on a range of largely young and unproven players with little experience of playing in the Eredivisie. 

During the same transfer window, key personnel such as Jurrien Timber, Edson Alvarez, Davy Klaassen, Mohammed Kudus and Dusan Tadic all departed. 

It has been reported that the Godenzonen are considering raiding Scottish Championship side Queen's Park for their Dutch director of football Marijn Beuker. 

He is less than two years into a decade long contract but Ajax are likely to have the financial muscle to break him out of his deal. 

De Boer rant

Former Ajax star Ronald de Boer laid the blame firmly on the club's summer recruitment drive, after the 2-1 defeat at home to AZ Alkmaar last Sunday.

He said: "It may seem tough but you can't make chocolate out of s**t. I'm really worried, I don't know where that's going. 

"We have a relegation match against Utrecht in two weeks' time. I've never experienced anything like this. 

"I watched the 1-2 loss against AZ on Sunday. The match was terribly bad. 

"I have nothing against the guys who have arrived. 

"They are happy to play at Ajax but it is not possible to bring in so many second-rate players and think that they will perform at a higher level." 

Regardless of whether Steijn is replaced during this international break, a swift return to any serious form seems unlikely. 

A rebuild is needed but as impossible as it may seem, the first priority is for Ajax to simply climb out of relegation danger.