Sentido Cala Vinas Hotel, Majorca, May 1989, 6pm. Joe Royle strides into the foyer of the Sentido Cala Vinas Hotel. He is in a good mood.
His players and staff flew out a day earlier for their end of season trip but he stayed behind to attend a gala dinner held by the north-west’s football journalists.
It is always good to keep the gentlemen and ladies of the press onside, but he is now looking forward to a week under the Majorcan sun with his charges.
Assistant manager Willie Donachie is waiting for him at reception. Concern is etched on his face. ‘Everything all right, Willie?’ Royle asks. ‘Not really, boss, no,’ comes the reply in thick Glaswegian.
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