David Spears (Simon Merrells) 2001

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

Last Regular Appearance: 5.12 (#240) It’s My Party  Sunday 2nd December 2001

Duration: EP: 229 - 240  |  SE: 5.1 – 5.12

Position: Assistant Manager / Manager (2001)

Last Seen: Driving away from giving the awaiting press his resignation, refusing to work for Sam Irving any longer.

David was a promising player at the height of his career, Alan Rothman’s protégé in much the same way Stevie Shaw would be later at Harchester. David married Dawn Daniels during this period, and the two were the showbiz couple of the moment, an early 90's Posh n' Becks. When David retired early from the game, Alan continued as his mentor until David had risen to the role of his Assistant Manager.

In July 2001, new Harchester United Chairman Sam Irving appoints Alan as manager, with David joining him at the Dragon's Lair. While David is hard at work with the lads, Alan is continuing a secret affair with the career-dwindling Mrs Spears, while plotting his getaway from dreary Harchester in a big money-making move to AC Milan. When David discovers this, he takes revenge by seeing Alan is caught with a fake Milan representative, discussing the money he will pick up from a transfer deal and is subsequently fired from United.

Rothman’s sacking presents David with his biggest opportunity to date - management of the Dragons while they navigate their first ever season in the prestigious Champions League. However with Monday Bandele comes a battle for the role, and the Mallorca Second Leg spells disaster for the team when both men put forward their own, very different tactics. Still capable, Lynda decides to stick with David in the role as the club now proceeds in the UEFA Cup, and Monday teams up with David to become his number two.

David struggles with Dawn’s betrayal, and feeling their marriage is not what it used to be, his eye begins to wonder. In the most unexpected of places - the training ground showers - David finds a muddy Claudia Irving beckoning for the young manager’s attention. David and Claudia discover a lot in each other; he a woman who wants to have fun with him, and Claudia a man who gives her the attention she lacks from her work-a-holic father.