West Brom chief Ron Gourlay targets fan and media relationships
West Brom chief executive Ron Gourlay has outlined several areas the Baggies need to improve in after his arrival.
Amid the appointment of Steve Bruce, the 59-year-old has attempted to identify other areas to strengthen to achieve success at the Hawthorns.
Gourlay has targeted the media and Albion fans as a priority in his honest assessment of where the club could do better.
“There are some things that have been rumbling on a lot longer than this season which we have to put right as a club,” he told Express & Star.
“We have to be more transparent with you guys [the media]. And we have got to be more in touch with our fan base.
“We have let that drift. It is one thing we have got to address. I think that just helps the whole thing. It does.
“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t believe me, Steve, the board, the fans – with the support of the owner – can take this club forward.”
Freshen up
The Baggies have a new structure on and off the pitch. Whilst Bruce pushes for promotion, Gourlay will be looking to bridge the gap between the club, fans and media in his new role.
Despite coming on board as a CEO virtually at the same time the Baggies new manager was announced, the former Chelsea and Manchester United executive has a lot of experience with the club.
His work with Albion as a consultant will put the 59-year-old in good stead in replacing Xu Ke in the role.
The extent of the job on his hands will be largely down to what happens on the pitch for the remainder of the season.
If Bruce manages promotion to the Premier League, there isn’t likely to be a huge amount of smoothing things over with the fans as all of this season’s problems will be forgotten.
Failure to do so could be problematic for Gourlay but that is the reason he has been brought in. It is certainly the right call by West Brom who realised they needed to freshen up their relationship with the fans during a difficult time.
In other Baggies news, Ron Gourlay admits Steve Bruce is the ‘perfect’ man for West Brom.