The experienced tactician took over from Stanley Menzo at the turn of the year, and despite improvement in play and a number of loan acquisitions made in January, the club failed to improve on its 15th-placed position over the 16 games the Turk was in charge, before dropping to 16th after being docked points for fielding ineligible striker Tendai Ndoro.
Although still fighting that outcome in court, a first National First Division stint in their history may soon become a reality for the Cape club, yet either way, Ertugral will still be at the helm.
“The coach is staying on whether we stay on in the PSL, or whether we’re not successful [in the court case],” Efstathiou told snl24.com/kickoff.
Relegation fears have raised questions about Ajax Amsterdam’s involvement with the Cape club, yet Efstathiou was quick to allay any doubts, insisting that every decision made thus far at Ikamva has been approved by the Dutch mother club.
“We don’t make any decision without Amsterdam’s approval,” he said. “We have a board, and are a properly constituted company that sits and makes decisions democratically and they’re completely behind the process.”
Ajax will find out next week the outcome of their review of the arbitrator’s decision to dock them seven points, resulting in their automatic relegation from the Absa Premiership.