Daily Mail shares West Brom latest as Ron Gourlay meets with fans, Guochuan Lai discussed
A group of concerned West Brom supporters met with Ron Gourlay to discuss the repayment of the loan controlling shareholder Guochuan Lai owes the club, according to the Daily Mail.
Lai remains detached from the club physically, but Gourlay has kept supporters updated on the areas of concerns that have arisen over the last month after Lai missed the deadline for his loan repayment.
The Baggies CEO has insisted that Lai will repay the loan in the near future, as uncertainty continues to arise about West Brom’s ability to make use of the January transfer window without it.
The Daily Mail report (January 23, Sports Agenda) said: “Concerned fans of West Bromwich were granted an audience with the club’s CEO last week following numerous protests about the Baggies’ ownership.
“Albion chief Ron Gourlay met Action for Albion, who have been highlighting issues including current owner Guochuan Lai twice defaulting on a multi-million pound loan made by the club to one of his companies.
“The group were assured by Gourlay that he expects the loan to be repaid, but further reports have emerged casting doubt on Lai’s ability to do that and his links to the organisation – Wisdom Smart Corporation – that received this loan in the first place.
“This comes in the weeks Sandwell Council granted an ‘asset of community status’ order to protest the Hawthorns from a quick sale. Albion’s ground is secured against a £20m loan taken out by the club from MSD Holdings. One to watch…”
Uncertainty
At the moment, this is as much as West Brom fans know about the repayment of the loan, which was supposed to be paid on the stroke of the year.
Lai has taken money out of the club and continues to delay his repayment at a critical juncture of the Championship season.
The uncertainty surrounding the Baggies’ finances looks to have had a profound effect on their January transfer window, with Carlos Corberan’s side yet to make a signing this month despite being well-placed for a promotion push in the second half of the season.
According to the report, it looks like Gourlay was quick not to mention an exact timeframe, and this will raise further questions as to Lai’s ability to afford the repayment.
Lai must communicate with fans, pay the money and then sell the club at the quickest opportunity, as fans won’t be to receiving of him when he does return to the Hawthorns.
In other West Brom news, a Sky Sports commentator was blown away by what this Baggies ace did in the Championship encounter against Burnley.