Yeah. I know you’re all fed-up seeing articles, blogs, random stories, bizarre rumours & mad conspiracy theories about the Tribute Act club based at the Big Hoose on Edmiston Drive. So, if you can’t be arsed reading another word of this, I’ll totally understand.
However, I promise you there won’t even be a whiff of pish-stained-trampy-trooserness to this. In fact, I haven’t a Scooby what this all means either. All I want to do is give you some facts, then let you draw your own conclusions. Although, I’ll be surprised if you don’t think this smells fishier than a fraserburgh fishwife’s fanny on a foggy Friday after five finnan-haddie fish suppers, (with apologies to all wummin’ for the inappropriate inherent sexism) and doesn’t at least elicit a few questions, like.Why? Why Now? & WTF?
BTW ED House, or as it’s shown in exhibit B – ON SE above ( presumably in a failed re-branding attempt to attract single ladies?) is the local architectural splendor pictured.
The starting point for this is in the public domain. All you need to do is to Google “Edmiston House CIC Companies House” and take a closer look yourself at Company Number SC520806
https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/SC520806/filing-history
Anyway, let me try and put this into context. As it was covered quite recently by all the SMSM, I assume it hasn’t escaped your notice that Rangers International Football Club PLC (2012) had a licence application (which included a submission by Club 1872) rejected, for use of the nearby Ibrox Complex – the property of Glasgow Live – as a FanZone, due to objections from the Local Community Council?
As per, “independent” fan group Club 1872 (more later) are unable to accept that not everyone is automatically in awe of “the world’s most successful football club”, or that their WATP sense of entitlement doesn’t actually entitle them to anything for free. Nor do they seem to understand that heavy handed statements claiming bias, combined with a campaign of personal threats & abuse – (threats to add injury to insult?)- particularly those aimed at SNP members from Rangers* supporting families – are unlikely to aid their cause. Reporting councillors to the Commissioner of Ethical Standards for daring to answer them back or prove them wrong in public, takes things to whole new levels of ridiculousness.
However, by far the most peculiar aspect to this whole business is that there’s already an area right next to Ibrokes, owned by Hunco (we think) that seems a perfectly suitable location for the proposed Fan Zone and has already been used as such this season. (see pic below) i.e. the area in front of the derelict crook-ED House (shown in red below) – so what’s stopping them from simply pulling down that building if they need more space? Surely, the world’s most successful football club can find a few volunteers happy to please their Probation Officer by taking part in an anger therapy session armed with chainsaws & bulldozers?
Robert Marshall – Owner of The LoutsDen Tavern.
Greg Marshall – Son of Robert & Alice Marshall – Ex Manager of LoutsDen Tavern, ex- Rangers First board member. Private Twitter name @WATP_Greg and – this is what confuses me – CURRENT RANGERS SUPPORTERS LIAISON OFFICER !!!
James Blair (below left)– RIFC COMPANY SECRETARY !!! At one stage the only remaining Director of Club 1872 … Sole shareholder & Dave King’s inside man on the “independent” fan group Club 1872.
Chris Graham (below right) – One time head of Rangers First. Fashion guru responsible for the promotion of Wham Gloves, designer stumble & the disposal 3 day Brogues & Blazer. Forced to resign as Hunco director following an obscene cartoon featuring the prophet Mohammed & Jar Jar Binks. Currently paid by RIFC and also working with Club 1872. Current holder ( going for 55!) of the Jolly Rodger Statement O’Clock Memorial Award. Believed to be the comedy genius behind many a bitter rant posing as public announcement from both club & 1872 and possibly the only animal still to recover from the 2001 Foot n Mouth disease outbreak.
Now, let’s go back to that Companies House registration of Community Interest Company number SC520806 “Edmiston House CIC”
The original Incorporation document from 20 Nov 2015 was prepared and presented by none other than James Blair himself, from the Anderson Strathern offices in Edinburgh.
The original directors were father and son Robert Marshall and Greg Robertson Marshall.
The nature of the business was defined as “Development of building projects” and described (in Pages 43 & 44 of the Incorporation document) as being for the benefit of “Supporters and followers of The Rangers Football Club”… “by financing or part financing the refurbishment and redevelopment of the subjects known as Edmiston House, Glasgow and other subjects within the vicinity of Ibrox stadium”
Although, not unlike the board of Club 1872, there’s been a game of musical director’s chairs … Greg replaced with his maw Alice in Jan 2016.. Father Robert resigning Nov 2017, then Greg back in January 2018 to replace Alice as sole controlling director.
Now, there may well be other factors which explain these changes – death, illness or retirement all spring to mind. However, what is not explained is what on earth has Greg Marshall – who has been Rangers SLO since April 2017 – got to do with the refurbishment and redevelopment of … Edmiston House” ??
If this was Celtic SLO John Paul Taylor and the building in question was the Celtic Ticket Office, wouldn’t you want to know WTF he was up to?
Which brings us back to the original subject. Edmiston House & the Fan Zone. Who owns it? I can understand why it hasn’t been knocked down (lack of money). However, I don’t understand what James Blair & the Marshalls are up to with this. It also begs the question as to why on earth would Glasgow CC even consider approving use of their land for a Fan Zone for FREE, when there’s a suitably sized area – apparently already owned & controlled by the “club” , it’s officials, or hangers-on??? right next door to Ibrokes.
When asked about this previously, Robert Marshall has denied (to fellow blue-noses) that this has anything to do with Edminston House – although the documentation suggests otherwise.
However, setting aside the fact that it’s laughable that anything involving drunken fans of Scotland’s Shame could possibly be in the interest of any community, the involvement of both Blair & Marshall Jr in this Community Interest Company does make one wonder what they’re up to?
Go figure as they say..
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