Gourlay

[leon]

Sorry guys but I think you’re being ridiculous.

He comes across as fairly measured and makes a few interesting points.

How did you want him to come across? Like Winston Churchill? Or maybe shouting whilst doing star jumps?

He wasn’t doing the half time team talk. He’s the CEO not the fitness instructor,

Agreed.

Ive only listened to the half of it but he's asked what went wrong and he immediately says poor pre season, long term injuries to key players and players and staff not performing to their potential. In other words what people have been saying on here. He also talks of changing the mentality at the club. He even admitted the Championship was a steep learning curve for him. I get there feeling some people haven't even listened to it before passing judgement.

What do people expect him to say? Do they want him to publicly hang individuals out to dry? He's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't.

Thank God for some AE sense on the Team Board.

[RoyalBlue]

Sorry guys but I think you’re being ridiculous.

He comes across as fairly measured and makes a few interesting points.

How did you want him to come across? Like Winston Churchill? Or maybe shouting whilst doing star jumps?

He wasn’t doing the half time team talk. He’s the CEO not the fitness instructor,

Agreed.

Ive only listened to the half of it but he's asked what went wrong and he immediately says poor pre season, long term injuries to key players and players and staff not performing to their potential. In other words what people have been saying on here. He also talks of changing the mentality at the club. He even admitted the Championship was a steep learning curve for him. I get there feeling some people haven't even listened to it before passing judgement.

What do people expect him to say? Do they want him to publicly hang individuals out to dry? He's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't.

Agreed.

He also made a very valid point re low profile owners - how much does Abramovich shove himself into the limelight? Yet Chelsea fans seem fairly happy with what he has done for their club. Frankly, given the choice between a very visible but financially limited owner and one who has the ability and willingness to bankroll the club to a very high level but prefers to stay in the background, I know which I'd opt for.

[The Cap]

Totally appreciate the points made by others. Was it ever going to be a Churchillian speech? Clearly not. In terms of the owners, I get all that. However, rather than trotting out what I feel for many was a well rehearsed party political broadcast, that Tellor should have challenged a lot more than he did, we were left with a factual but very insipid response.

[Hound]

Finally got a listen. Seemed a reasonable interview too me, not really sure what the issue is

Explained the thoughts behind Stam staying as long as he did, why the owner isn’t especially visible but also confirmed the amounts being invested in the training ground

I’m sure other changes will be taking place behind the scene to try to remedy last season without him needing to broadcast it

[From Despair To Where?]

To be honest, I don't know what more you would expect the CEO of any company to say in an interview with a local hack other than a assessment of the past year and a broad statement of future intent.

[leon]

To be honest, I don't know what more you would expect the CEO of any company to say in an interview with a local hack other than a assessment of the past year and a broad statement of future intent.

Well quite.

I also thought that TD did a reasonable job of asking the right questions.

It was interesting that the owner (singular) wanted to give Stam as much time as possible - I think that’s a good sign even if he gave him 2 months too long.

[Double d v2]

Sorry guys but I think you’re being ridiculous.

He comes across as fairly measured and makes a few interesting points.

How did you want him to come across? Like Winston Churchill? Or maybe shouting whilst doing star jumps?

He wasn’t doing the half time team talk. He’s the CEO not the fitness instructor,

Agreed.

Ive only listened to the half of it but he's asked what went wrong and he immediately says poor pre season, long term injuries to key players and players and staff not performing to their potential. In other words what people have been saying on here. He also talks of changing the mentality at the club. He even admitted the Championship was a steep learning curve for him. I get there feeling some people haven't even listened to it before passing judgement.

What do people expect him to say? Do they want him to publicly hang individuals out to dry? He's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't.

Agreed.

He also made a very valid point re low profile owners - how much does Abramovich shove himself into the limelight? Yet Chelsea fans seem fairly happy with what he has done for their club. Frankly, given the choice between a very visible but financially limited owner and one who has the ability and willingness to bankroll the club to a very high level but prefers to stay in the background, I know which I'd opt for.

Rare agreed with leon

[genome]

People only notice when an owner is absent when things aren't going well.

If we had won the league last season then absolutely noone would give a shit if Dai Yongge attended matches, spoke to the press or not.

[Royalwaster]

Finally got a listen. Seemed a reasonable interview too me, not really sure what the issue is

Explained the thoughts behind Stam staying as long as he did, why the owner isn’t especially visible but also confirmed the amounts being invested in the training ground

I’m sure other changes will be taking place behind the scene to try to remedy last season without him needing to broadcast it

Agree - sounded very reasonable. There was nothing there I objected to and in fact a lot I thought he said very well. Thumbs up from me.

[RoyalJones]

https://www.wokinghampaper.com/ron-gour ... c-updates/

Interview with the Wokingham Paper here, not sure what to make of it, any thoughts?

[Hound]

seems sensible enough to me.

I've a feeling REP is never going to happen. I don't think the new owners want it, at least not in its current form.

[Old Man Andrews]

seems sensible enough to me.

I've a feeling REP is never going to happen. I don't think the new owners want it, at least not in its current form.

Really hope the train station goes ahead, would be a massive plus.

[Coppells Lost Coat]

seems sensible enough to me.

I've a feeling REP is never going to happen. I don't think the new owners want it, at least not in its current form.

Really hope the train station goes ahead, would be a massive plus.

Think owners would like it to happen, but all the red tape that surrounds this stuff will probably wear them down and they'll lose interest.
However I think there is quite a lot being invested around town for public transport but I am still holding out for that monorail.

[Hound]

The station is a completely separate project though isnt it? I expect that will still happen, and yeah it would be very good if it did

[blueroyals]

RE: REP - my understanding is that the club (and by extension the new owners) only own a minority (25%?) stake in the holding company which now owns the land. The rest is still owned by the Thai's(?). If that is the case then I don't think the project has much to do with "Reading Football Club" any more...

[muirinho]

RE: REP - my understanding is that the club (and by extension the new owners) only own a minority (25%?) stake in the holding company which now owns the land. The rest is still owned by the Thai's(?). If that is the case then I don't think the project has much to do with "Reading Football Club" any more...

A minority stake is still a stake. And Nigel Howe, who is now vice chairman of the football club is in charge of property development - of both REP and the new training ground. So there's definitely a link - what there isn't is overall control.

[Hound]

no agreed, its not totally up to them. However I suspect if they don't want it to happen they could make it quite difficult. My guess is at some time the Chinese will buy that land back off the Thais before anything is built on it, and take control of the project.

It sounds like the Chinese are pumping a fair bit of money into the infrastructure with the training ground etc. I just don't see how having only a stadium in the middle of someone else's development project really fits in with their profile.

[One87One]

Apologies if touched on already, but Mr Gourlay recently saw off the marketing chap who was helping with the South Stand home fans thing, and he's since brought in his own man.

Worse still, Gourlay's idea of improving the atmosphere is........... A MARCHING BAND!

As I understand it this was dismissed, but, he really doesn't have a clue what the fans want/need!

[maffff]

Full-scale symphony orchestra in the South Stand or GTFO Ron.

[Sutekh]

Thames Valley Jets next.....