What's happened to ex-West Brom and Reading FC chief Ron Gourlay? | OneFootball

FLW takes a look at how Ron Gourlay has got on since leaving Reading and West Brom

Ron Gourlay previously worked as the chief executive officer at both Reading and West Brom - and it's fair to say he isn't too fondly remembered by fans of either club.

The now 63-year-old first took over at the Royals in 2017, having spent three years out of football after initially becoming CEO at Chelsea in 2009.

He held that role until 2014, and was in charge when the Blues won their first ever Champions League under Roberto Di Matteo in 2012.

Gourlay had also worked for the likes of Manchester United and sports brand Umbro, before becoming the chief executive for the London outfit, and now, FLW takes a look at where he is in September 2026 after exiting West Brom in 2024.

Ron Gourlay’s life after West Brom

Having left Reading over three years prior to much fanfare, Gourlay spent over a year as the CEO of West Brom, arriving in February 2022 and departing in May 2023, before being placed on gardening leave.

The 63-year-old made the move to Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Ahli FC in January 2024 following the end of his period of gardening leave at The Hawthorns.

But his time with the Middle East side lasted just over a year, as he went on to become the CEO at Valencia in May 2025.

There, he was reunited with former West Brom manager Carlos Corberan, who he had originally appointed as manager at The Hawthorns in October 2022, but the Spaniard would outlast the CEO after he departed at the end of the 2022-23 season.

Ron Gourlay oversees Valencia’s transfer business

Gourlay took over as the new CEO at Valencia in May 2025 following the team’s 12th place finish in La Liga under Corberan.

The fallen Spanish giants improved to a ninth-placed finish in the executive’s first year working with the club, with the team showing steady progress on the pitch.

Valencia earned 49 points, and also reached the quarter finals of the Copa del Rey, which prompted a busy summer of spending.

The European club signed seven new players, including permanent deals for Anrau Martinez, Ryunosuke Sato, Justin de Haas and Aliou Dieng, which led to Gourlay speaking to the press regarding their business.

He revealed that Valencia were limited by the financial fair play rules, which prevented further business, and he's now under-fire when it comes to his future at the Estadio Mestalla.

Ron Gourlay refuses Valencia resignation

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Gourlay confirmed that he will not be pressured into resigning amid scrutiny on the club’s business.

The Spanish side have lost three of their four opening games, and are currently bottom of La Liga with just one point to their name.

“I didn’t say I would be here two years; I said three, and I was also referring to four transfer windows,” Gourlay told the club’s website.

“I’m not going to resign.

“I see what’s happening at the club, I know the processes, and we’re moving in the right direction.

“I’m not referring to the start of this season, which hasn’t been acceptable.”

Ron Gourlay was not popular at Reading or West Brom - Valencia struggles are no surprise

Gourlay was not a popular figure during his time in charge at either Reading or West Brom, with fans expressing their frustration at how he ran both clubs.

The 63-year-old was criticised by the former chairman at the Berkshire outfit John Madejski following his exit, suggesting that he harmed the team’s relationship to the supporters.

His appointment of Steve Bruce as manager of the Baggies also received a lot of scrutiny from supporters, and put the Midlands outfit at risk of relegation to League One.

However, the arrival of Corberan proved a shrewd decision, and the Spaniard improved Albion’s position in the Championship, and Gourlay’s position at the club - even if he did leave his position at the end of that season.