Ex-West Brom chief under pressure as Valencia lose Birmingham striker

Gourlay's contract now runs until 2028, yet the former West Brom chief executive faces mounting pressure after Valencia's bid for Birmingham City striker Marvin Ducksch collapsed, leaving the Spanish club without the German forward. The 32‑year‑old had joined the Blues from Werder Bremen thirteen months ago and scored eleven goals across all competitions.

Action Images By  Benedict Ferraby PM GMT+1, an EFL-accredited sub‑editor for FLW, covers the Football League and focuses on Hull City and Birmingham City. He graduated with a 2:1 (Hons) in Multimedia Journalism at the University of Wolverhampton in September 2024, then earned a Merit in MA Sports Journalism at Coventry University in 2025. He previously covered Rugby League and non‑league football, and interned with Wolves' Academy between 2023 and 2025.

Ron Gourlay served as chief executive of West Bromwich Albion from 2022 to 2024 after earlier roles at Chelsea and Reading. He took the helm at Valencia CF in 2025, where his contract extension until 2028 was intended to provide stability. Try to understand the pressure on Gourlay.

Valencia's inability to secure Ducksch has intensified scrutiny of Gourlay's recruitment strategy, with fans and media questioning whether the club can add depth to Carlos Corberán's squad. The Spanish side had hoped the German would bolster their attack ahead of the 2026/27 campaign, but the deal stalled in the final hours of the transfer window.

Gourlay's Valencia role under scrutiny

Spanish daily AS, cited by Sport Witness, reported that Gourlay is under mounting pressure at Valencia after the failed transfer. Critics argue that his previous success at West Brom has not translated to the Mestalla, where the club still seeks to improve its attacking options.

Marvin Ducksch's stalled move

Marvin Ducksch, the 32‑year‑old German forward, arrived at Birmingham City from Bundesliga side Werder Bremen thirteen months ago. He has netted eleven times in all competitions, sharing the joint‑top‑scorer accolade with club record signing Jay Stansfield. Despite interest from AEK Athens and Real Sociedad, and reported offers from Orlando City and Atlanta United, Ducksch rebuffed those moves. Valencia's late‑window bid was also blocked by the Blues, who included him in the matchday squad against Southampton, leaving the striker perplexed.

Birmingham have started the 2026/27 season unbeaten in four league games, yet have collected only four points from six against play‑off rivals Wrexham and Southampton, with Ducksch absent from both fixtures. An injury sustained in a pre‑season training camp in Portugal two months ago further limited his involvement, as he featured only six minutes of the 2‑2 draw with Bristol City on 22 August and was an unused substitute in subsequent matches. Whilst the transfer collapsed, Birmingham continue their campaign.

If Ducksch can rediscover form, a January move may still materialise, but his current standing in the squad appears marginal as manager Chris Davies favours Jay Stansfield in the number‑10 role and has recruited Liam Millar for the left wing. Us will watch the developments with interest.