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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Hannah Pinnock

Former Liverpool star Dirk Kuyt 'confronted' by supporters as police called to training ground

Former Liverpool star Dirk Kuyt was 'confronted' by supporters of ADO Den Haag and police were called to the training ground on Sunday, according to reports from the Netherlands.

The ex-Dutch international was appointed head coach of the second tier side on a one year contract earlier this summer. It's been a turbulent start to life in the dugout for the 42-year-old as his side currently sit 17th in the table. They've won just one league game so far this season, drawn one and lost four.

A report from Dutch outlet AD claims supporters are dissatisfied with the performance of the team so far this campaign and wanted to talk to the manager. Kuyt is said to have agreed to speak to them and the report says discussions proceeded 'calmly', although a police presence was in attendance at the training ground.

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The club's director Edwin Reijntjes told the news outlet: "It shouldn't happen too often, but I can imagine that the supporters do this. If you play well and you lose unluckily, it's even different. But it just doesn't play well. The supporters just like to see that differently.

"Dirk knows that too. If it takes too long in football, there can be consequences. But I'm still confident it'll be okay. If we beat Jong FC Utrecht and PEC Zwolle, the world could immediately look very different.”

After Friday's 2-2 draw against Jong AZ, Kuyt's side are next in action on Monday night against Jong FC Utrecht before they face current league leaders PEC Zwolle four days later. Following their relegation from the top flight in 2021, Den Haag finished fourth in the table last season.

They missed out on promotion in they play-off final against Excelsior back in May and reports in the Netherlands at the time revealed, while most supporters left the ground calmly at full-time, a small group 'pelted riot police with stones and fireworks' outside the stadium. Following Kuyt's appointment in the summer, expectation is certainly to drive the side to promotion and back into the Eredivisie.

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