Methane leak at the Barons?

Prashant Ditani's evil machinations continue as he arranges for the Council to evacuate the Barons to check for methane leaks. This obliges Linda to move all the players and wives to the Grange at the club's expense, adding further strain to the club's precarious cash-flow situation. Linda agrees to pay everyone's board until after the 'Boro match next Saturday, but Lizzie isn't pleased. She has two children to feed, and she doesn't fancy the expense of paying for a week's worth of restaurant bills.

It's Siobhan's 20th

It's Siobhan's 20th birthday, and she's feeling all alone. Her family in Ireland are treating her "like dirt" for marrying Monday Bandele for a fee, and she ends up crying on Tash's shoulder. Never fear, however, because Tash has a plan. She confronts Monday and shames him into going into town to get Siobhan an expensive birthday present. (Blameless Monday didn't even know it was Sioblan's birthday.)

"Mr Parker, can I have a word... outside?"

Jamie Parker's gambling problems continue to deepen. He's confronted by two tough-looking henchman-types in the lobby of the Grange. He's told they'll be back at 7PM to collect all Jamie's debts to arch-bookie "Mr McGreavy (?)", which amount to the best part of fifty grand. Jamie decides to indulge in a bit of enlightened self-interest by taking depressed Eddie Moliano on a trip to the gee-gees. Eddie, fresh from his humiliation at the hands of the nefarious Maria, is looking for a transfer to a Mediterranean club. Linda is only too happy to oblige. Eddie is a player of limited ability, and the transfer fee will enable her to pay the team next week's wages. She's received word that Alan Smith at Crystal Palace is prepared to pay a cool million to get him, though he's not prepared to match the wages that Harchester are paying Eddie.

Fletch in league with Prash

Prash confers with Fletch in the Grange car park. Fletch, you'll recall, has (with Prash's full approval) been seduced to the dark side by the considerable charms of Prash's paramour, the delectable Victoria Baptiste. Prash has managed to convince Fletch that he loves Harchester United, and that the best thing would be to get Linda out of the way. Linda, Fletch now believes, is "out of her depth" as club chairwoman. In the Grange bar, he discusses the situation with captain Matt Conlon, and makes a compelling case. Prash believes that Linda's downfall is now only days away.

Andy Ansah's scene

Meanwhile, deputy gaffer Andy Ansah confers with Ray Wyatt in the manager's office. They discuss strategies to adapt to the expected departure of Eddie. They need someone to take his place in defence. Andy overeggs the pudding and conveys powerful anger where he should express mild concern. Still, he's a credible enough presence, considering that he's not a trained actor.

Eddie and Jamie at the gee-gees

Jamie has a plan. He tells Eddie that they'll start by spreading one-K and two-K bets across the bookies, and then zoom in on the "big one". Jamie induces Eddie to loan him some money to wager. After some initial small-scale success, Jamie says they should put all their winnings on a tip he's received - a horse called Yellow Card going at 11/4. He reckons they'll "win large". Amazingly, this is exactly what happens. Jamie senses that he's on a roll, and they place all their fresh winnings on Sophie's Blush at 11/2. Jamie's luck holds again. It looks like he might be able to clear his gambling debts after all and get himself out of the hole he's dug himself into. In the meantime, Eddie gets a call from agent Jeff, who tells him of the offer from Crystal Palace. Eddie rejects it out of hand on the basis that "Maria is in London". Jamie goes for the big one, and puts all their by-now-considerable winnings on yet another sure thing...

Siobhan's birthday party

Tash comes up trumps for Siobhan, and holds a surprise party for her in the Grange bar along with several players. Siobhan gets a little the worse for wear on the free-flowing champagne. Fletch spots an opening and approaches her, hoping for an easy kill. Danny and Carlton conspire to save her from his greasy mitts by staging a fake call to Fletch from Prash. While Fletch is distracted, Danny escorts Siobhan to her room. Siobhan becomes amourous and locks Danny in an embrace. Just at this moment, Monday turns up with Siobhan's present and gets the wrong idea. Siobhan is upset by the ensuing melee. Later, when things calm down, Monday gives Siobhan her present - an expensive pendant studded with emeralds (to remind her of home - the Emerald Isle). He then gets her to promise that, for the sake of appearances, she won't get involved with any of the other players. This is unfortunate, because it seems that Danny has a soft spot for her.

Eddie going to Turkey?

Jeff manages to get an offer from Turkish club Trabzon Spor for Eddie. He does have some misgivings - "they sacrifice a goat at the start of each season". However, Eddie is incommunicado at this point, because he is disembarking from a taxi outside the Barons with Jamie. They are both completely plastered, having unbelievably won big on the last of Jamie's sure things. They are so drunk that they have forgotten that the Barons is locked up for safety reasons. By the time they get back to the Grange, Linda and Jeff are well cheesed off. Eddie rejects the Turkey move out of hand, and Linda, distraught, takes her leave. It can't be easy going through a pregnancy alone when you run a Premiership football club. 

Rekindling the flames of passion?

Matt and Lizzie Conlon make full use of the king-size bed in their suite in the Grange. Recently, they went through a rocky spell, but now things are looking up. They reminisce on how good things were when they were starting out together. It looks like they are rekindling the flames of passion. 

The heavies return

Meanwhile, the two heavies are back for the money that Jamie owes. Unfortunately for Jamie, it's nearly eight o'clock. He was supposed to meet them at seven. They lose patience and go up to his room, where they confront Tash, taking her jewellry and car keys, and knock her out-cold. When Jamie stumbles into the room with his winnings, she's in a traumatised state. She decides on the spot to leave him. It was his gambling problem, after all, that led to her horrendous experience with the heavies.