Ajax have parted company with their head coach ahead of their meeting with Albion.

Under-fire Maurice Steijn left by mutual consent this afternoon with the Amsterdam giants in the Eredivisie relegation zone.

His assistant Hedwiges Maduro has been placed in caretaker charge.

Ajax head to Sussex this week for the third round of Europa League fixtures.

They will train at the Amex early on Wednesday evening.

Steijn had accepted his position was coming under serious pressure after yesterday’s 4-3 defeat at Utrecht.

He said today via a club statement: “Everyone who knows me knows I have done everything to take Ajax back to the place where this club belongs, but I failed to do so.

“I want to thank the supporters and the people I have worked with here, and I hope Ajax will find its way up again soon."

Ajax’s schedule this week also includes a league game at arch rivals PSV, who have maximum points from nine games.

Maduro, 38, played as a defensive midfielder for Holland and clubs including Ajax, Sevilla, Valencia and PAOK.

Since then, he has mainly worked as an assistant coach although he took charge of the under-21s at Almere City, leading them to their league title.