Tributes paid after death of Hearts bid consortium leader

Published on Tuesday 24 November 2009 22:59

EDDIE Cobb, who led a consortium that lost out to Chris Robinson and Leslie Deans when they bought Hearts from Wallace Mercer and played a key role in the redevelopment of Tynecastle, has died at the age of 79.

The retired partner with Edinburgh-based quantity surveyors Cobb McCallum headed a five-man consortium which attempted to buy Mercer's shares in 1984. Seen as a stalking horse, the consortium's 2million bid opened the door for Robinson and Deans to buy out Mercer.

At the time, Cobb was in charge of the redevelopment of Tynecastle and worked on the project that saw the Wheatfield Stand being built.

A lifelong Hearts fan, Cobb, who grew up in the Gorgie area of the city, was a club shareholder for 50 years. He was a member of the Hearts Youth Development Committee and was a founder member of the Executive Club at Tynecastle.

"Eddie was a really nice guy and was a regular in the boardroom at Tynecastle until this season," said Deans. "He was one of life's cheery people and, even though there was some suggestion that Eddie was part of a rival consortium when Chris Robinson and I bought the club from the late Wallace Mercer in 1994, there was certainly no animosity as it wasn't as though it was a battle."

Cobb lived in Gullane for a spell and was a prominent member of the local golf club. He joined in 1972 and was club captain from 2000-2. He was also a member of Turnhouse and Royal Burgess at one time.

Former Hearts manager Jim Jefferies said: "I first knew Eddie from visiting the Executive Club and always remembered him from the maroon blazers he wore. After we won the Scottish Cup in 1998, he helped me get into Gullane Golf Club and I was thankful for that. He was a dyed-in-the-wool Jambo and I'm sad to hear of his death."

Cobb is survived by his wife, Dorothy, and three children, Stewart, Andrew and Elaine. His funeral will be held at Warriston Crematorium at 11am on Saturday.