Tom Ross slams ‘disrespectful’ Guochuan Lai for what he’s done at West Brom
BirminghamLive columnist Tom Ross has slammed West Brom controlling shareholder Guochuan Lai for his “disrespectful” lack of communication with the Baggies fans.
The Albion faithful have been heavily protesting recently for the owner to leave the club as soon as possible, with the money he owes to be paid back to the club plus interest after missing three deadlines to make the payment.
The Times reported on 3 January that Lai had taken out a new high-interest £20 million loan, having missed the repayment deadline for the money he had borrowed for one of his other companies.
The Chinese owner had also promised he’d pay back the loans but has still failed to do so, and Ross tore into Lai for his lack of communication and transparency over his unpaid loans.
Writing on BirminghamLive [29 March], he said: “Albion fans are also unhappy with their owner, Guochuan Lai, and would also like to see a change. They also want answers regarding an unpaid £5 million loan to Lai. The money was to help one of his other businesses but he has missed two repayment deadlines and that rightly concerns the fans and the club’s shareholders.
“Also, the fans are genuinely concerned regarding a £20 million loan over four years arranged by Lai to pay for general day-to-day club costs. What also worried the supporters was that the loan was obtained by using the club’s assets as collateral, which includes The Hawthorns.
“As with Blues, Lai does not have any direct communication with Baggies’ fans and that is disrespectful. Like Blues’ fans, Albion’s want answers but, most of all, they want new owners.”
No trust
When a club owner promises they’ll do something in the interests of a major football club, they simply have to follow through and show their integrity or else their position comes under major scrutiny, and it is only right Lai’s continued incompetence comes under the microscope right now.
There really is no trust and confidence from the West Brom faithful and the club’s other shareholders in Lai’s ownership and something has seriously got to give because these failed loan repayments could jeopardise the club’s immediate future.
Lai’s continued lack of communication and transparency in regard to these issues is a huge concern and yet another example of his incompetence as a controlling shareholder of such a prestigious football club.
Fans desire answers and updates on what’s going on in their club and they aren’t getting that, hence the unrest and heavy protest.
The future of the football club rests in Lai’s hands, yet it feels like the Chinese businessman is living under a rock. What the heck is going on?
In other West Brom news, this attacking duo has been named in the best English XI from the Championship this season by a stats company.