RON Gourlay says he is determined to send Reading FC back to the big time.

Royals’ new chief executive brings a wealth of experience with him after spending 15 years with Manchester United and Chelsea in a similar role.

And Gourlay, who replaced Nigel Howe in the summer, wants to give Royals fans another taste of top-flight football.

The Scotsman even hinted a place in European competitions is not beyond Royals’ reach under the new ownership of Chinese billionaires Dai Yongge and Dai Xiu Li.

“One thing I have missed is big teams coming to Madejski Stadium,” admitted Gourlay, 54.

“Mr and Miss Dai are very ambitious people and so am I.

“I have worked in the Premier League and Europe and there is nothing better in football than these big nights.

“You’ve always got to shoot for the stars and sell the dream.”

Gourlay left Chelsea in 2014 after a decade at Stamford Bridge and previously spent five years at Manchester United when Royals boss Jaap Stam was an Old Trafford player.

And he is eager to bring stability after a number of rocky years behind the scenes.

“I joined at a very interesting time for Reading,” he explained.

“The club has gone through three ownerships in the last five years. I think that’s had an impact on business and unsettled people at the club.

“With so much going on you have to say Jaap Stam did a fantastic job to get so close to promotion last season.

“I was on the commercial side of Manchester United when Jaap was a player there. He was very much a major player.

“But I’ve been very impressed with him as a manager. Last season was exceptional.

“Now we have very ambitious owners and I have to manage expectations of the fans because they will be here longer than anyone else.”

Gourlay was between jobs when Reading came calling in the summer, though he put his time to good use by watching as much football as he could.

And he believes he has all the tools needed to take Royals to Premier League - and keep them there.

“After 15 years back-to-back with Manchester United and Chelsea I needed a bit of time out," he explained.

“I took a year and a half out and it was a very interesting time. Football has changed dramatically in the last five years.

“I have a lot of experience at Premier League, European and international level, so it’s different watching games when you are not CEO.

“I’ve never been CEO in the Championship but I know what it means to be one in the Premier League and to stay in the Premier League. I think that’s going to be very important.”