[SmethDan]

r.
To be fair , when Gourlay said that Lai had been here for two months, then that made me think
Where did you get that bit of info from as I haven't seen that mentioned anywhere?

It was in one of Tambag's posts where he quoted Ron Gourlay's interview earlier in the thread. It's the time Lai was photographed at the training ground with Valerien Ismael and the players just prior to Dike's arrival.

The length of Lai's stay was in part due to China's Covid quarantine rules. I knew he was here for a while but I must admit I didn't remember it being for a total of two months.

[baggiejohn]

Open Air concert in May at the Hawthorns - is this part of the Ron Gourlay initiative to increase revenue streams?

https://www.wba.co.uk/news/west-end-stars-present-evening-queen-hawthorns

[gazberg]

Hopefully they've upgraded the PA! 

[gerry m]

Open Air concert in May at the Hawthorns - is this part of the Ron Gourlay initiative to increase revenue streams?

https://www.wba.co.uk/news/west-end-stars-present-evening-queen-hawthorns

Sounds a very good idea. Going slightly off topic, when i used to go to Newmarket races they would often have bands playing after the races. One summer they had Roy Wood and Wizzard. Quite funny to hear the encore 'I wish it could be Christmas every day'  .

[seteefeet]

They used to do it at Wolvo races as well, probably still do.
Good idea, hope it takes off.

[gazberg]

Didn't the dingles used to do it?

I'm sure someone asked me to watch Bon Jovi about 20 years ago at the Molinuex.

[LoxleyBaggie]

Open Air concert in May at the Hawthorns - is this part of the Ron Gourlay initiative to increase revenue streams?

https://www.wba.co.uk/news/west-end-stars-present-evening-queen-hawthorns

Wonderful.  Maybe they could have a picture of the different managers from the last x number of years each time they sing the phrase 'Another one bites the dust'.

[gazberg]

Wonderful.  Maybe they could have a picture of the different managers from the last x number of years each time they sing the phrase 'Another one bites the dust'.

 

Excellent

[skyclad99]

Open Air concert in May at the Hawthorns - is this part of the Ron Gourlay initiative to increase revenue streams?

https://www.wba.co.uk/news/west-end-stars-present-evening-queen-hawthorns

Think its a good idea to be honest, always wondered why Richie Woodhall didn't stage a fight there.

[BAGGIE5]

Can anyone update on the meeting today? What did Gorlay say about the future?

[Albionic]

Don’t know about specifics, but mate who was there said it was very positive, will ask for some nuggets

[hardtobeat]

People who attended seem to be very positive toward Gourlay . These people includes the likes of Dean Walton who bleeds blue and white.

[VANDERLEI]

Think its a good idea to be honest, always wondered why Richie Woodhall didn't stage a fight there.

He simply couldn't sell enough tickets to warrant the cost

[kc56wba]

I was at the Assembly meeting last night and have to say it was all positive stuff, yes people will say talk is cheap but this new CEO was different he came to every member of the Assembly and introduce himself. I have heard that some of our fans keep mentioning his time at Reading, he explained that at Reading he had to hit the ground running and people there didn’t like change, whereas at the Albion he had had 6 months as an ‘observer’ so now knows what needs to be done.

He also said he will meet fans at Supporters Club meetings, Warwick, Kidderminster, and other branches will be seeing him in future events.

From a personnel point of view he was very interested in the work I do on behalf of football fans with disabilities.

[SmethDan]

Well, I guess we're going to find out what he's all about soon enough. So in the meantime I'm not going to worry about it. Too much......

[LiamTheBaggie]

Open Air concert in May at the Hawthorns - is this part of the Ron Gourlay initiative to increase revenue streams?

https://www.wba.co.uk/news/west-end-stars-present-evening-queen-hawthorns

If its anything like the audio on a match day then we'll end up paying more in compensation than increasing revenues 

[Baggies]

Feels like a mixed bag from the reports I've read so far.

Firstly, credit to the assembly members for seemingly asking the difficult questions. I had my doubts that they would. It's just a shame there can't be a recording made public for fans who aren't invited

It is a positive that he was very engaging with the fans, everyone I've read seems to have a good impression about him after speaking to him last night so I have to hope there was some real authenticity in his words when heard first hand.

I'm not overly sold on his explanation on his Reading days. Everyone connected with the club has been scathing about his time there as CEO. If as CEO his only reply is "it was everyone else's fault" and no acknowledgement of the fact he was the top dog during an awful period for the club then that is a bit of a red flag for me - good leaders acknowledge and learn from their mistakes but it seems publicly atleast he doesn't think he has made any.

I like the fact he seems to have taken the time to speak to everyone personally. I remember years ago being told by somebody how a certain Albion Academy director by the name of Dan Ashworth took the time to learn every trialists name when he came in at the end of the session and it was a big factor in players joining up with the club. It's maybe a sign of somebody who will be thorough which is good.

My final take away is the language used about how the difference this time is that he has been an "observer" for the last 6 months and knows what the issues are. "Observer" is an interesting choice of words, it suggests a passive involvement and nothing else. He wasn't an observer though, he was an adviser. That feels to me like he is putting a bit of distance between himself and the decisions made between the summer and now. Again, plays into my concern about how much responsibility he takes for past failures.

No idea how it will play out with him.

[baggiejohn]

Feels like a mixed bag from the reports I've read so far.

Firstly, credit to the assembly members for seemingly asking the difficult questions. I had my doubts that they would. It's just a shame there can't be a recording made public for fans who aren't invited

It is a positive that he was very engaging with the fans, everyone I've read seems to have a good impression about him after speaking to him last night so I have to hope there was some real authenticity in his words when heard first hand.

I'm not overly sold on his explanation on his Reading days. Everyone connected with the club has been scathing about his time there as CEO. If as CEO his only reply is "it was everyone else's fault" and no acknowledgement of the fact he was the top dog during an awful period for the club then that is a bit of a red flag for me - good leaders acknowledge and learn from their mistakes but it seems publicly atleast he doesn't think he has made any.

I like the fact he seems to have taken the time to speak to everyone personally. I remember years ago being told by somebody how a certain Albion Academy director by the name of Dan Ashworth took the time to learn every trialists name when he came in at the end of the session and it was a big factor in players joining up with the club. It's maybe a sign of somebody who will be thorough which is good.

My final take away is the language used about how the difference this time is that he has been an "observer" for the last 6 months and knows what the issues are. "Observer" is an interesting choice of words, it suggests a passive involvement and nothing else. He wasn't an observer though, he was an adviser. That feels to me like he is putting a bit of distance between himself and the decisions made between the summer and now. Again, plays into my concern about how much responsibility he takes for past failures.

No idea how it will play out with him.

Interesting comments.

RG certainly talks a good game, just hope he can deliver.

Couple of points though.......................

Observer/Advisor it matters not a jot, he wouldn't have been responsible for decision making at WBAFC.

There's an old saying "Managers Manage / Advisors advise", the ultimate decisions would have been taken by the board. On the other hand GL must have trusted his advice to have given him the CEO remit.

On the second point, as I understand it, there are vacancies for assembly members, as a member you would get first hand information.

[tambag]

Looking at the pics for the Assembly meeting, I would say we need more younger people to come forward, it looks like it is mainly men of over who are over 40/50 with the odd lady.

 

[baggiejohn]

Looking at the pics for the Assembly meeting, I would say we need more younger people to come forward, it looks like it is mainly men of over who are over 40/50 with the odd lady.

I believe that's the plan, to get a group who are more representative.

[kirk]

I was at the Assembly meeting last night and have to say it was all positive stuff, yes people will say talk is cheap but this new CEO was different he came to every member of the Assembly and introduce himself. I have heard that some of our fans keep mentioning his time at Reading, he explained that at Reading he had to hit the ground running and people there didn’t like change, whereas at the Albion he had had 6 months as an ‘observer’ so now knows what needs to be done.

He also said he will meet fans at Supporters Club meetings, Warwick, Kidderminster, and other branches will be seeing him in future events.

From a personnel point of view he was very interested in the work I do on behalf of football fans with disabilities.

Observer … he was a paid football consultant in which we hired Val and brought in players … he goes on about communication but firing Val he already had decided Steve Bruce was the only option … seems to spin a lot of what he claims

[kamarasboot]

People making comments on his advisor or consultant role make it sound like he was the only one in the building. No one knows what his involvement actually was - here’s another view rather than a ‘he was part of the problem’ approach, maybe, just maybe he was the nagging voice of doubt, maybe he wasn’t overly sold on Val, players etc, maybe the fact his doubts have become reality have lead to the owner giving him the ceo role. Maybe Lai thought if he’d listened to him rather than Ken we wouldn’t be where we are now…..

[baggiejohn]

People making comments on his advisor or consultant role make it sound like he was the only one in the building. No one knows what his involvement actually was - here’s another view rather than a ‘he was part of the problem’ approach, maybe, just maybe he was the nagging voice of doubt, maybe he wasn’t overly sold on Val, players etc, maybe the fact his doubts have become reality have lead to the owner giving him the ceo role. Maybe Lai thought if he’d listened to him rather than Ken we wouldn’t be where we are now…..

He was certainly part of the decision making process, & since he was commissioned by Lai, it's unlikely that Ken or anybody else would have discounted his advice.

From his latest remarks, the re-set announced by Ken in the summer before VI's appointment, was almost certainly driven by RG.

It looks as though the development plan is still in place, they just got the wrong person as head coach.
It happens, nobody in business gets every appointment right.

[kc56wba]

Looking at the pics for the Assembly meeting, I would say we need more younger people to come forward, it looks like it is mainly men of over who are over 40/50 with the odd lady.

This was discussed at the meeting and will be addressed in the near future. The main problem is getting people to attend meetings at 7pm after a hard days work, which dont affect the old buggers like me who are retired.

[caravanc58]

Didn't the dingles used to do it?

I'm sure someone asked me to watch Bon Jovi about 20 years ago at the Molinuex.

Supertramps regularly turn up at molispew.