West Brom: Ron Gourlay deserves praise as ‘significant’ development shared from The Hawthorns
Ron Gourlay deserves credit for ensuring West Brom stayed afloat while waiting for a new owner to come on board, according to Chris Lepkowski.
Albion’s precarious financial situation has been well documented while they have waited for Shilen Patel to complete his purchase of the club from Guochuan Lai.
However, with Bilkul Football WBA, LLC – a company ultimately owned by Florida-based entrepreneur Shilen Patel and his father – now agreeing an 87.8 per cent shareholding in WBA Group Limited, the future looks far less bleak.
Speaking on The Liquidator podcast [18 February, 09m 21s], former Birmingham Mail reporter Lepkowski said: “By the way, if what I’ve heard is correct, Gourlay was always instrumental in ensuring our financial situation was at least being managed.
“The potential for more loans going out was quite significant had he not been around, so he deserves credit.”
Presenter Adrian Goldberg added: “Ron Gourlay came in for a lot of criticism, much of it justified during his time as chief-executive, but he does deserve credit for bringing in Carlos Corberan.”
Carlos Corberan appointment at West Brom a masterstroke
Gourlay’s departure as chief executive at The Hawthorns last summer came as a surprise after handing in his resignation.
The 60-year-old had solely run the football operations at West Brom since his appointment in February 2022, during a busy period for the club.
He has since taken on a similar role with Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli, but his presence around Albion can still be felt on and off the field.
Bringing in Corberan was a masterstroke as the Spaniard has worked wonders since his arrival in October 2022.
In terms of Gourlay’s off-the-field work, ensuring West Brom did not go under – while sounding like a case of damning with faint praise – helped ensure the bricks were in place for Patel to push through the takeover.
Now, after months and months of drawn-out speculation, the Baggies are finally in a position to draw a line under the previous regime and look ahead to happier times.
In other West Brom news, Lai could net an extra £50m from the Baggies even after departing the club.
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