GERRY: Yeah, well he’s pretty agitated at the moment, but let me have five minutes with him and I’m sure he’ll be reasonable. We’ll get a joint press statement out from the two of you saying that you’ve patched up your differences and you’ve withdrawn your resignation.

GERRY goes towards the door, looking at his watch.

The meeting’s starting in an hour and a half. Just give me five minutes with him.

GERRY opens the door and indicates to TED that he should come in. LAURIE goes out of the door after TED comes in. They look at each other as they pass but don’t speak.

TED: You know what I’ve been thinking? We should stop bending over backwards to placate him and accept his bloody resignation.

GERRY: It’s a tempting thought.

TED: Why don’t we?

GERRY: It’s difficult to replace a coach halfway through a season, Ted, and he knows it.

TED: We’re not going to renew his contract at the end of the year. Let’s get rid of the bastard now.

GERRY: We’re going to try and not renew his contract at the end of the year. He’s very popular with the supporters and the players and the Committee knows it.

TED: To hell with the players and the supporters. The Committee’s where the power is and we’ve got the numbers. Last Saturday’s game clinched it. Blind Freddy could have seen that Danny was being beaten pointless, but Laurie refused to shift him until the last quarter. It lost us the game. Ian and Kevin were disgusted. They said that tradition can go to hell, that they’re right with us and that Laurie is definitely getting the axe.

GERRY: I know, I had a long talk with them after the game; but they can change their minds again.

TED: They won’t change their minds. Laurie is a dead duck.

GERRY: I never count anything as certain until it happens.

TED: Look, the supporters will be ecstatic when they find out who we’re getting to replace him, and the players only like Laurie because he pampers them like babies. As far as he’s concerned they can’t do a thing wrong. Second from the bottom and five straight losses and the only explanation he can give us is that they’re a bit upset, poor darlings, because Geoff Hayward got a little bit of money. It’s just not good enough. They need a tough bloody hand and they’re going to get it. Laurie is a dead duck.

GERRY: That blunder last week was pretty obvious.

TED: Blind Freddy could have seen it.

GERRY: They say he was a great player.

TED: Yes and my aunt makes great scones, but it doesn’t mean she should run a cake factory.

GERRY: We can’t sack him in the middle of the season.

TED: Well if he stays, he’s going to have to apologise. In the press.