MARTIN Jol will not be Sunderland's next manager after he was appointed as the new boss of Dutch side Ajax.

Jol, who started today as third favourite in the betting to succeed Ricky Sbragia, has signed a three-year contract with the Amsterdam-based club.

The former Tottenham manager was appointed Hamburg coach last summer and led the club to a fifth-place finish - and a Europa League spot - in the recently-completed Bundesliga campaign.

Ajax today confirmed the 53-year-old would succeed Marco van Basten, who resigned with one game of the Eredivisie season remaining after missing out on a Champions League spot.

** READ MORE SUNDERLAND NEWS IN TOMORROW'S NORTHERN ECHO **