West Brom news emerges as Ron Gourlay chases Guochuan Lai over loan repayment
West Brom CEO Ron Gourlay has been left “frustrated” by the reassurances Guochuan Lai gave him after failing to meet the £4.95million loan repayment deadline, according to Birmingham Live.
The Baggies board has come under flack from the fanbase in recent times for his role in the club’s fall down the English football league, but the pressure on Gourlay’s shoulders magnified after the club finances were thrown into disarray.
However, according to a report from Birmingham Live, Gourlay has been left chasing the loan repayment – which had a deadline of 31 December – and was left disgruntled that he received heavy criticism from the fanbase throughout recent games, despite his best efforts.
The report said: “In the meantime, CEO Gourlay is also bearing the brunt of Lai’s failings.
“There were chants targeted at Gourlay too, although he has been chasing up the loan repayment – a loan sanctioned by predecessor Ken – and is understood to be frustrated that the reassurances he has received, that he has then relayed to the supporters, has not bore fruit.”
Tough to watch
The ongoing saga with Lai off the pitch is dampening the positive feeling surrounding Carlos Corberan’s side on it.
Gourlay spoke out on matters before the New Year and revealed to fans that the loan with interest would be repaid in time, but this has not gone down well with the fanbase after Lai failed to meet the deadline.
The CEO is becoming the scapegoat of the club as Lai continues to fail to show his face and publicly interact with the club, and you can’t help but feel Gourlay is stuck between a rock and a hard place.
The club need a clean slate, and hopefully, the payment can be made and the funds used to propel West Brom’s promotion bid in the January transfer window.
If the Baggies can invest in their squad over the coming month, they may well stand a fair chance of promotion back to the Premier League following their remarkable return to form under Corberan.
In other West Brom news, a finance podcaster has sent a message to lawyers about Albion’s latest financial statement.