Monday, 19th September 2022

Leslie stepped into Roy's office.

"Coach Kent?"

"Higgins, you've always called me Roy, am I in trouble?"

Higgins shook his head. "No, but Rebecca and I need to speak to you."

Roy looked at Beard. "I'm in trouble, get started without me."

"Yes, Coach."

Roy rolled his eyes. He stood and followed Higgins up to Rebecca's office where she was sitting behind her desk, waiting for them.

"Morning, Rebecca."

"Roy, have a seat."

"If you're firing me, I'd much prefer to be standing."

"I'm not firing you; we need to talk about Jamie." Rebecca told him.

Roy sat.

"Higgins was contacted by someone from Inter Milan."

Roy crossed his arms.

"They want to know how long Jamie's contract is."

Roy nodded his head, grunting.

"He could be paid a lot more at a top club like them…" Higgins said. "I thought they would wait until his contract was up but there is a chance that they'll offer to buy out his contract to get him now."

"We need to tell him," Roy said. He knew he couldn't do it, so he needed Rebecca to.

Higgins nodded. "I'll go and get him."

Rebecca sat silently watching Roy who was staring over her shoulder.

"Roy…" Rebecca started.

Roy looked at her, she shook her head and fell silent again.

Ten minutes later, Higgins and Jamie walked in. Jamie's hands absolutely wrapped and buried in his kit.

"You're not in trouble," Roy told him.

Jamie didn't unfurl but his shoulders eased a little.

"I told him that too," Higgins said.

"Ain't no other reason to pull me outta training."

"Jamie, have a seat," Rebecca said. "You aren't in trouble; we have something to share with you."

Jamie looked at Roy and then sat, wishing he could reach out for the other man.

"Richmond were contacted by Inter Milan, they expressed interest in knowing about your contract with Richmond."

Jamie slumped into his chair. "I told me agent to tell 'em, I ain't leaving Richmond."

"You knew?" Roy asked.

Jamie looked at Roy and shook his head. "No, but my agent said…after last season…that she may be contacted and wanted to know what I wanted to do. Told her I ain't going anywhere."

"While I appreciate your loyalty to your contract," Rebecca started.

"Ain't about me contract," Jamie said. "Rebecca, I ain't never had what I have here."

"Which is?" Rebecca asked.

"A family sort of, I have me mummy and uncles and cousins and shit but it was always just me and mummy pretty much and she's the best but I trust these men, they're what I think having brothers would be like; they forgave me at me worst and supported me becoming a better man and I don't want to leave that."

"You are going to need to leave Richmond eventually," Roy said.

"Why?" Jamie asked, eyes sinking.

"Because you could be the best in the world, and you'll be even better with the experience you can get outside of England. I thought it might be Spain or Germany."

"You think I should leave?"

Roy groaned. "I think you should do what you want but it's an opportunity to really think about. This team is special, and the boys will always be your friends…your brothers. But, if your career is going to be…if you still want to be a legend, then it might mean going to one of the big teams."

"I don't want to leave you…all," Jamie said.

"It's your life and your career," Rebecca said, making Jamie jump.

"I ain't breakin' me contract and maybe when we win the league, I'll think about it."

"I will pass on your thoughts," Higgins said. "If you ever want to talk about your career, I'm always available for a chat."

"Thanks, Higgins," Jamie said. "Thank you, Rebecca."

"You're welcome."

Roy stood up. "Come on, back to training."

Jamie nodded and stood up, they walked out towards training together but in the empty corridor, Roy pulled Jamie into the boot room.

"Coach?"

"I don't want you to stay because you don't think you can still be this Jamie somewhere else."

"There are things here I don't want to leave," Jamie said.

"How long is your contract?" Roy asked.

"Three years."

"I'm sure that there are things…people too, that don't want you to leave. But, you have to do what's right for you and your career. People talk shit about this being a game and it is but it's also your fucking career and if you still want every little kids in the world to know the name Tartt, to be up there with Messi, Beckham, Cruyff, then you have to think strategically about where you play as well as how you play."

"Maybe that's Richmond for my whole career."

"I wish I'd tried out another team," Roy admitted. "I had an offer from Paris Saint-Germain and wanted to take it…I stayed because Ruth fell pregnant and her shithouse ex fucked right off. The bastard came back before she finally kicked him to the gutter for good but I stayed because I wanted to be here for her and to help with Phoebe and I wouldn't give that up for anything but…but I want you to know you have options. If you want them. If you're not scared like I was…because I stayed with the safe bet. If you want to stay here, do it, but know you are going to outgrow this team's talent. My talent as a coach especially."

"You got me to a point where Inter Milan are interested."

"You did that yourself," Roy told him. "I just made you run."

"Roy…" Jamie stepped closer but the door opened, Will spotted them and ducked back out.

"I want you to have everything you want, Jamie."

Jamie nodded, his heart tight. He couldn't say anything because there was too much in his brain and his heart and his stomach to put into words. Things like, will you come with me, and I'd stay for you, and why can't you love me back.

"Right, do a lap to catch up with the rest of the team," Roy said, striding towards the door.

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