Alan Rothman (Glen Murphy) 2001, 2003

First Regular Appearance: 5.1 (#229) Passports Out  Sunday 16th September 2001

Left: 5.3 (#231) Revenge Is Mine  Sunday 30th September 2001

Returned: 6.25 (#285) Show Me The Money  Sunday 30th March 2003

Last Regular Appearance: 6.32 (#292) Just The Ticket  Sunday 18th May 2003

Duration: EP: 229 - 231, 285 - 292  |  SE: 5.1 - 5.3, 6.25 – 6.32

Position: Manager (2001, 2003)

Last Seen: Sitting in the stands recovering from his heart attack as Phil Wallis raffles off the club. Replaced by Pilar with Stuart.

A no-nonsense Gaffer, Alan had enjoyed a successful playing stint in Roma, where he fell in love with the European game. Beginning his managerial career at Gillingham, he progressed to the point of returning to Italy and taking over at Bologna. By the summer of 2001, the position of manager was vacant at Harchester United following the departure of Ray Wyatt. And though the club was still under a cloud following the recent murder of chairman Prashant Dattani, Alan's only concern was for the football side of things... that and his paycheck of course! 

The Dragons were in the Champions League for the first time in their history, and with Sam Irving, an owner who would provide little interference, Alan took the job, bringing his long-time assistant David Spears with him. Alan’s first game with Harchester, none other than the Champions League qualifier against Mallorca, was thrown into chaos when Karl Fletcher was arrested for Prash’s murder. Alan puts his protective side on show and is there beside his striker, but also keen for Fletch to start in this all important game.

With David taking charge in Alan’s absence, Rothman is busy with another affair - David's wife Dawn! It isn’t long in Harchester before David knows the truth and plots to bring Alan down. When AC Milan come in for Alan, he plans to take David and Stevie Shaw - the man he sees as the star of his team, to the San Siro with him. Not only content with taking Stevie behind Chief Exec Lynda Block’s back, Alan is also out to make himself money from the deal. Conspiring with slimy journalist Paul Hankin, David oversees that Alan is caught out discussing the deal and money he is set to receive. Because of this, Alan loses everything, and leaves Harchester in disgrace, but vowing he will be back in management.

A season later, with his favourite Chief Executive Lynda tucked safely behind bars, Alan gets the chance to put things right at Harchester when chairman Phil Wallis brings him back. Of course, Rothman returns with another lust dilemma, with Sky Sports presenter Yvonne. This, while his young, ambitious PA Jennifer is also in love with the man. Alan keeps the team afloat until what should be the last day of the season, when the team are held up by Jamie Parker. Having been mentally destroyed by Patrick Doyle, Alan had dropped Jamie from the squad. As the siege ends in Jamie's death, Alan suffers a heart attack but survives, and is there to see Harchester escape relegation by beating Everton 1-0.

As he leaves to recuperate no doubt somewhere hot, scheming new Chief Exec Pilar Hernandez realises Alan would be too much of a match for her puppetering techniques, and opts for Stuart Naysmith as new manager. Alan leaves with Jennifer for pastures new.