Van Gaal quits Holland job

Holland coach Louis Van Gaal resigned over the lack of commitment from his players.

Today's 'Volkskrant' newspaper claims Van Gaal's decision to qui the job he held for fifteen months last night came after a lack of reaction from his squad after failure to reach the 2002 World Cup finals.

A 1-0 defeat in Dublin against the Republic of Ireland in September ended Dutch chances to reaching Japan and South Korea and the KNVB is meeting tomorrow to discuss the successor to Van Gaal whose final game saw Holland draw a friendly on November 10th 1-1 with Denmark at which point he decided to quit the job.

Ajax coach Co Adriaanse may take temporary charge for friendlies next year as Holland do not have a competitive game until next September in the Euro 2004 qualifiers.

Dutch federation president Hans Kesler said he would offer no words on the immediate future after Van Gaal's resignation which was widely expected. : "We have agreed not to comment and will stick by that agreement."

Van Gaal had a six year contract with the KNVB but lack of success in the World Cup finals has further damaged the reputation of a man who took Ajax to the European Cup in the mid-1990's but whose subsequent carer at FC Barcelona did not live up to expectations.