• Support Wokingham Today
  • Get the print edition
  • Sign up for our daily newsletter
Sunday, May 25, 2025
Wokingham.Today
  • HOME
  • MY AREA
    • All
    • Arborfield
    • Barkham
    • Beech Hill
    • Binfield
    • Bracknell
    • Charvil
    • Crowthorne
    • Earley
    • Emmbrook
    • Finchampstead
    • Grazeley
    • Henley
    • Hurst
    • Lower Earley
    • Norreys
    • Reading
    • Remenham
    • Riseley
    • Shinfield
    • Sindlesham
    • Sonning
    • Spencers Wood
    • Swallowfield
    • Three Mile Cross
    • Twyford
    • Wargrave
    • Winnersh
    • Wokingham
    • Wokingham Without
    • Woodley
    • Woosehill
    • Yateley
    Very Beautiful South's nine-piece band will play sing-along classics: Perfect 10, Rotterdam, A Little Time and Don?t Marry Her. Picture courtesy of Wokingham Music Club

    Beautiful South tribute band to play in Wokingham

    Two June volunteer fairs will give people an opportunity to connect with a charity and discover the joy of volunteering. Picture: courtesty of ABC to Read

    June is the time to highlight the joys of volunteering

    McDonald's Picture: Pixabay

    McDonald’s ‘actively reviewing’ for third Bracknell site

    Woodley & Earley Lions Club has recently welcomed their newest joiner. Picture: Woodley & Earley Lions Club

    Lions club welcomes eighth new member in 12 months

    Members of Twyford and Ruscombe Horticultural Association will be selling plants at their garden store on June 1.Picture: congerdesign via Pixabay

    Choose new plants for the garden at a Twyford plant sale

    Cockpit Path car park in wokingham. Pic: Andrew Batt.

    Parking charges in Wokingham up – again

    The Hope & Anchor. Pic: Rightmove.

    Historic town pub listed for sale

    A cancelled transaction at an Easthampstead Road car park ticket machine Picture: Brian Turner

    New parking app plans revealed

    The 14th Bracknell Ale & Cider festival takes place at Bracknell Rugby Club on Sunday, May 25.

    Siren sponsorship of Bracknell ale festival

  • SPORT
    • All
    • Binfield FC
    • Reading FC
    Ruben Selles

    Former Reading FC manager Ruben Selles linked with League One job

    Reading FC Picture: Luke Adams

    Reading fans – you can finally dare to dream again

    BAPCO beat Burghfield to take the title. Pic: Andrew Batt

    Four in a row for BAPCO

    Rob Couhig, Joe Jacobson

    Rob Couhig reveals new Reading FC CEO following takeover

    Bobby Trundley and his team mates Picture: Dave Allen

    It’s a podium streak for Wokingham racing star Bobby with a win at Silverstone

    Wokingham Cricket Club

    Cricket legend Gower welcomes in Wokingham CC’s bicentenary season

    Rams RFC Pictures: Paul Clark

    Rams RFC celebrate at end of season ball

    Cricket Picture: Pixabay

    Lewis hits brilliant century to see Berkshire CCC beat Buckinghamshire

    Emmbrook & Bearwood cricket club is hosting the sessions.

    All welcome at summer cricket sessions

  • READING FC
  • COMMUNITY
    Very Beautiful South's nine-piece band will play sing-along classics: Perfect 10, Rotterdam, A Little Time and Don?t Marry Her. Picture courtesy of Wokingham Music Club

    Beautiful South tribute band to play in Wokingham

    Two June volunteer fairs will give people an opportunity to connect with a charity and discover the joy of volunteering. Picture: courtesty of ABC to Read

    June is the time to highlight the joys of volunteering

    Woodley & Earley Lions Club has recently welcomed their newest joiner. Picture: Woodley & Earley Lions Club

    Lions club welcomes eighth new member in 12 months

    Members of Twyford and Ruscombe Horticultural Association will be selling plants at their garden store on June 1.Picture: congerdesign via Pixabay

    Choose new plants for the garden at a Twyford plant sale

    Cockpit Path car park in wokingham. Pic: Andrew Batt.

    Parking charges in Wokingham up – again

    The Hope & Anchor. Pic: Rightmove.

    Historic town pub listed for sale

    The 14th Bracknell Ale & Cider festival takes place at Bracknell Rugby Club on Sunday, May 25.

    Siren sponsorship of Bracknell ale festival

    People Planet Pint meets monthly to socialise and discuss sustainability with like-minded people, at Wokingham's Rose Inn. Picture: Emma Merchant

    Discuss the environment over a pint in Wokingham

    Woodley Repair Cafe operates on the first Sunday of the month, at Christ Church, Crockhamwell Road, between 2pm and 4pm. Picture: Emma Merchant

    Get things fixed in Woodley

  • LIFESTYLE
    • All
    • Food
    • Health
    • Obituaries
    • People
    The Hope & Anchor. Pic: Rightmove.

    Historic town pub listed for sale

    Woodley Repair Cafe operates on the first Sunday of the month, at Christ Church, Crockhamwell Road, between 2pm and 4pm. Picture: Emma Merchant

    Get things fixed in Woodley

    Photography by: Summers Photography. Flowers by: Fletchers Flowers. Set up by: Crystal Hire.

    Get married and win a wedding at Dinton

    The Forest Shelter construction at Dinton Pastures.

    Forest of Imagination set for this weekend

    Margaret Drinkwater and Julia Isaacs have both donated blood 100 times, and encourage others to join them. Picture: Margaret Drinkwater

    Super donors Julia and Margaret encourage more people to give blood

    Christen  Forster speaks about the explosion of life in Spring, and at Pentecost. Picture: Christen Forster

    Church Notes

    Stephen Lewis (aka Box Dropper Logistics)

    West Streeting with Olivia Bailey, Yuan Yang and Matt Rodda.

    Health secretary visits Royal Berks

    People Planet Pint Wokingham leader Elizabeth Corse says David Attenborough's new film is sobering, but hopeful. Picture: Edmondlafoto via Pixabay

    Naturally Speaking

  • WHAT’S ON
    • All
    • Arts
    • Entertainment
    Siren RG1

    Siren RG1 to mark first anniversary with weekender celebration

    Wellington Farm Shop

    Wellington Farm Shop celebrates its 20th anniversary

    Two concerts in one day from Reading's APO. Picture: Pexels via Pixabay

    An orchestral event in Wokingham promises evening of drama and contrast

    Eva Wong Nava will be at Trinity Hall Church on Monday from 4pm until 5pm. Picture: Eva Wong Nava

    Young writers can meet children’s author Eva Wong Nava

    Crafters can join a project  to decorate Twyford village centre with bunting Picture: Hello I'm Nik on Unsplash

    Get out the bunting for VE Day at Wokingham’s May Fayre

    Crowthorne Symphony Orchestra's performance of American music promises to be a fun and high energy evening. Picture: CSO

    Discounted tickets available for summer concert in Wokingham

    The Wokingham Lions Club has announced its new season of  #WOKY Comedy Nights at Wokingham Theatre, will begin on Friday, October 4. Picture: Wokingham Lions Club

    Enjoy the last of this season’s #Woky Comedy Night

    A concert at Wokingham Baptist Church will celebrate Ukrainian culture and support charity. Picture: Olena Romanovska

    Wokingham to host a concert of Ukrainian music and dancing

    Priscilla at South Hill Park Pictures: Alex Harvey-Brown

    REVIEW: The true colours of SHP’s Priscilla are beautiful like a rainbow

  • JOBS
  • ADVERTISE
  • CONTACT
No Result
View All Result
Wokingham.Today
No Result
View All Result
Home Featured

INTERVIEW: Ron Gourlay admits life at Reading FC has been tougher than he expected

by Tom Crocker
September 7, 2018
in Featured, Sport
Ron Gourlay has replaced Nigel Howe as Reading CEO

Ron Gourlay left Reading FC this week

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7b63sdGNRo

Ron Gourlay admits his first year as Reading’s chief executive has been more challenging than he expected it would be.

The former Chelsea man arrived in July 2017 with an impressive CV to replace Nigel Howe, who switched his role to become the vice chairman.

Fresh off the back of a run to the Championship play-off final and with new owners Dai Yongge and Dai Xiu Li on board, the outlook appeared positive for the Royals.

Ron Gourlay and the Chinese owners have been at Reading for just over a year

But 14 months on and having only avoided relegation on the final day of the 2017/18 campaign, Reading find themselves bottom of the table after six games of 2018/19 with just two points.

And when asked if this year had been tougher than he first anticipated, he said: “Yes. I’m very honest.

“It’s only when you get inside a club that you truly get a feel for how much work is required.

Related posts

Former Reading FC manager Ruben Selles linked with League One job

Reading fans – you can finally dare to dream again

“There’s been a lot of changes off the field. You’re going to get churn in any football club but we’ve been working very, very hard behind the scenes and hopefully we’ll reap the benefits of that going forward.

“There is more needing to be done than what I envisaged when I came in.

“But we’ve brought some key experienced people into the club.

“The head of the academy (Ged Roddy) is the guy who set up the academy in the Premier League, EPPP (Elite Player Performance Plan). My operating officer has years of experience at Manchester United and Chelsea.

“We’re talking about experience, behind-the-scenes working on the business side and there’s a lot of good things that are there, but at the end of the day you’re judged on the performance on the field and we know that.”

REACTION: Paul Clement calls on players to step up after defeat to Sheff Wed

One of the big developments Gourlay has presided over since his arrival was the change of manager from Jaap Stam to Paul Clement.

Jaap Stam’s time at Reading came to an end in March

Following a run of just one win in 19 league games, Reading were sliding towards the relegation zone under Stam before he eventually left in March, with Clement quickly drafted in for the final eight games of the campaign.

However, while Clement ensured the Royals avoided the drop, the start to this season has seen him placed as the bookies favourite to be the next Championship manager to be sacked.

But Gourlay believes he’s earned a chance to put things right.

“There was a lot of patience (with Stam) from the board and the owner back then,” said the CEO.

“But I need to restate to you that it was by mutual consent with Jaap. It wasn’t just the club that decided. It was also the coach.

“Who knows what would’ve happened in that last eight games?

“Paul was brought in to protect our position in the Championship, which he did and I think he deserves a lot more time than some of the criticism that has been raised at this present time.

“But in fairness, you’ve got to look at it over a period of time from where we were in the play-offs to last season to how we’ve started this year and I understand that.

“I understand the concern of the fans. The fans will be here long after I’m gone, they’re the heart and soul of the club, so I understand the criticism.

“The only way we can put criticism away is to perform on the field.”

Check back to wokinghampaper.com later for more from Gourlay.

Keep up to date by signing up for our daily newsletter

We don’t spam we only send our newsletter to people who have requested it.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Tags: GourlayJaap StamPaul ClementReading FCRon Gourlay
Previous Post

BREAKING: Deputy leader of Wokingham Borough Council resigns

Next Post

Liam Moore urges Reading FC players to “look in the mirror” after falling to bottom spot

FOLLOW US

POPULAR THIS WEEK

Toastmasters helps people to enjoy public speaking. The group meets at The Bradbury Centre, Peach Place on the first and third Tuesday of each month. Picture: Matt Botsford via Unsplash

Practise public speaking with Toastmasters

May 23, 2025
People Planet Pint Wokingham leader Elizabeth Corse says David Attenborough's new film is sobering, but hopeful. Picture: Edmondlafoto via Pixabay

Naturally Speaking

May 20, 2025
Cockpit Path car park in wokingham. Pic: Andrew Batt.

Parking charges in Wokingham up – again

May 24, 2025
Margaret Drinkwater and Julia Isaacs have both donated blood 100 times, and encourage others to join them. Picture: Margaret Drinkwater

Super donors Julia and Margaret encourage more people to give blood

May 21, 2025
The Forest Shelter construction at Dinton Pastures.

Forest of Imagination set for this weekend

May 21, 2025
A 10th Anniversary party for Wokingham In Need was hosted by Alexandra Grange on Monday. Pictures: Emma Merchant

Wokingham In Need enjoys a happy birthday party at Alexandra Grange

May 22, 2025

ABOUT US

Wokingham Today is dedicated to providing news online across the whole of the Borough of Wokingham. It is a Social Enterprise, existing to support the various communities in Wokingham Borough.

Wokingham.Today is a Social Enterprise and aims to ensure that everyone within the Borough has free access to independent and up-to-date news. However, providing this service is not without costs. If you are able to, please make a contribution to support our work.

CONTACT US

[email protected]

Keep up to date with our daily newsletter

We don’t spam we only send our newsletter to people that have subscribed

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

  • Support Us
  • Book Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Get the Print Edition
  • Sign up for our daily newsletter

The Wokingham Paper Ltd publications are regulated by IPSO – the Independent Press Standards Organisation.
If you have a complaint about a  The Wokingham Paper Ltd  publication in print or online, you should, in the first instance, contact the publication concerned, email: [email protected], or telephone: 0118 327 2662. If it is not resolved to your satisfaction, you should contact IPSO by telephone: 0300 123 2220, or visit its website: www.ipso.co.uk. Members of the public are welcome to contact IPSO at any time if they are not sure how to proceed, or need advice on how to frame a complaint.

No Result
View All Result
  • HOME
  • MY AREA
    • Arborfield
    • Barkham
    • Beech Hill
    • Binfield
    • Bracknell
    • Charvil
    • Crowthorne
    • Earley
    • Emmbrook
    • Finchampstead
    • Grazeley
    • Henley
    • Hurst
    • Lower Earley
    • Norreys
    • Reading
    • Remenham
  • COMMUNITY
  • LIFESTYLE
  • SPORT
  • READING FC
  • OBITUARIES
  • WHAT’S ON
  • JOBS
  • PHOTOS
  • ADVERTISE WITH US
  • CONTACT US
  • WHERE TO GET THE PRINT EDITION
  • SUPPORT US

© 2022 - The Wokingham Paper Ltd - All Right Reserved.