Finance expert reacts as BBC Sport share Ron Gourlay update at West Brom
Football finance expert Kieran Maguire has been left baffled by West Brom looking to take out a loan from MSD Holdings with the Baggies set to be repaid £4.95million from Guochuan Lai.
Chris Lepkowski reported (via Twitter, 22 December) that Albion had sent a letter to shareholders with the club looking to take out a fresh loan.
Ron Gourlay has recently assured fans that Lai’s loan will be repaid on time, and will be available when the January window opens (BBC Sport, 23 December).
With the Baggies set to receive £4.95million, Maguire cannot understand why the club are looking to take out another sum of money.
He wrote (personal Twitter account, 24 December): “West Brom: Ron Gourlay assures fans £4.95m Guochuan Lai loan will be repaid…which begs the question, why are the club having to go to MSD Holdings for a loan if they are about to receive the money back from Lai?”
Not good
Things are going far better on the pitch which has undoubtedly taken the attention from the off-the-field issues, however, the Baggies looking to take out another loan cannot be ignored. Far too many clubs have fallen down the football pyramid after owing millions to outside investors and it’s important West Brom don’t become the next club to do so.
With the money due back from Lai, the Baggies looking to take out another loan doesn’t quite add up. Many fans will be eager for the off-the-field issues to become less of a talking point in the coming months.
Much of the talk in recent weeks has surrounded Lai, and his position at The Hawthorns, and it does feel like animosity towards the West Brom chief is now growing. With there now being a fresh approach on the pitch, the time is now right for a more sustainable and less chaotic approach to be taken off it.
In other West Brom news, a finance podcaster has sent a message to lawyers about Albion’s latest financial statement.