Season 6 Episode 20 Episode 280 Sky One Transmission Date: Sunday 23rd February 2003 Directed By Henry Foster

The Headlines… Fletch, Tommo, Clyde, Marcel Tash, Robbie Phil

GS: David Douglas (Richard Derrington) Suzanne Simons (Alexandra Lilley) D.I. Foster [Fraud Squad Detective] (Andrew Frame) Mike Wedderburn (as himself) Jeremy Langdon (as himself) Hope Parker (Olivia Sofie Newman) Jacqui tells Phil everything – Patrick’s bet, her involvement and subsequent affair. Phil also learns the truth about the baby being Doyle’s. Jacqui phones Patrick and tells him it's all over. Patrick holds training the next day, with a press crew present, when Phil rocks up. He announces all to the lads, the Gaffer and his Mrs, plus the bet for the club to be relegated for half-a-million pounds. Phil punches Patrick and tells him he is fired, which Patrick claims is lies to the press. Patrick warns Fletch to keep his mouth shut otherwise his test result will be publicly revealed. Patrick addresses the team, admitting he had an affair with Mrs. Wallis but the allegations were due to Phil being drunk and angry. He bids the team goodbye. Sky Sports News screens Phil's training ground showdown, and Marcel goes for Sully when he suggests both he and Curtis were match fixing for Doyle. Amongst the pack of reporters camped outside the Lair is Suzanne Simons of the Sunday Star, who suspects Fletch is involved in a drugs rumour. She sweet-talks the naïve Clyde into taking her card. Stuart approaches Phil about who is taking charge when they have West Ham in three days, and Phil responds with how it might as well be him. Phil is handed a letter stating Patrick is suing him for libel. He and Jeff meet with David Douglas, but arrive at the club to find the FA Compliance team taking files and officers from the fraud squad waiting for him. Phil is told Doyle could sue him for up to ten million unless he can find proof of the bet. Suzanne offers to pay Clyde the week's wages he was fined for talking to the press, and she tricks him into revealing the drugs scandal at the club. She is especially interested to hear that Abi Fletcher was involved in the secret tests. When Clyde realises what the repercussions could be for him if this comes out, he enlists Jeff and Tash’s help, and they sell Suzanne the exclusive with Mrs. Wallis instead. Jacqui claims in her interview that she made up the match fixing allegations to get back at Patrick in distress over her miscarriage. When angry fans gather outside the club, demanding Patrick is reinstated and Phil sell the club, Phil goes to the physio room where he collects pills. Knowing they have signed Clyde, with Tommo and Ryan no doubt on the way, Jeff thinks he and Tash are back in business. Robbie tells Tash he knows there are too many obstacles in their way to be together and it was good while it lasted, bidding her goodbye. Alone in the boardroom, Phil makes a video where he talks of how he wishes he'd never bought that lottery ticket, because it destroyed the one thing he cared more about than the club, his marriage. And he can't bear to see the club go down, so says goodbye… Notes: Last appearance of Robbie Walsh (Scott Mean) Best Known For: Alexandra Lilley appeared in "Doctors" (4 episodes, 2002) and in "The Archers" as Coriander Snell (2007-10) Andrew Frame's credits include the recurring role of P.C. Hargreaves in "EastEnders" (2001-07) and DI Ron Cook in "The Murders at White House Farm" (2020) Additional Info: Roger Frost, last seen in 4.23, is still club secretary as Nikki informs Phil he has told them the FA Compliance people must be allowed to complete their job. Soundtrack: Archive: "Organ Song", DJ Shadow: "Fixed Income", BRMC: "Love Burns", Coldplay: "The Scientist", Red Hot Chilli Peppers: "Venice Queen", Audio Bullys: "Real Life" <<SE06 EP19 | Season 6 Main Page | SE06 EP21>>