Naomi Wyatt (Rebecca Loos) 2005

Duration: EP: 340 - 341, 345 - 346, 352  |  SE: 8.16 - 8.17, 8.21 - 8.22, 8.28

 

Naomi was Middlesbrough F.C's sports psychologist during the time Vivian Wright was the club's first team goalie. Viv was troubled, but his actions often unpredictable, so when a volatile incident on the pitch saw him bite off the nose of an opposing player, leading to Viv earning his notorious nickname "Jaws", Naomi was thrown to the sharks herself as the club's scapegoat. Both sacked by Middlesbrough, Viv's known talent would see him land a new club before long, and it did in Harchester United. Naomi however wasn't so lucky, and the incident saw her unemployable in football. Despite the stigma, Naomi was sympathetic to Viv's plight, as a doctor knowing it wasn't Viv's character which made him do what he did, but a personality imbalance.

 

It is a surprise then, when a season after the Middlesbrough incident, that Viv contacts Naomi for her professional advice. Viv is on edge, thrown by the return of his wife Chelsea after her affair, and Naomi is concerned for his wellbeing. She goes to see Dean, and is further alarmed that the club does not know that Viv is no longer seeing his prescribed psychiatrist Dr. Newton. When Viv's team mate Lee is the first to learn Chelsea in fact hasn't returned but is a figment of his imagination, Viv has an aggressive outburst in the Players' Lounge, and Naomi tells Dean Viv is going to need time out of the game. Naomi makes the decision to phone Chelsea in the Maldives to bring her in on what's going on, and Chelsea herself makes Viv realise she isn't coming back to him. The 5th Round of the FA Cup is up next, and with a weakened squad, Don Barker desperately needs Viv. Naomi is not happy at all, and her fears are proved correct when Viv begins hallucinating that Clyde, the team mate he believes had the affair with Chelsea, is sitting across from him. Viv reacts violently and causes an injury to Presley's leg, before being sectioned.

 

The next time Viv is seen at the club he is highly medicated which shocks Fletch, who is standing in as manager while Barker recuperates. Naomi asks Fletch about Viv being allowed back to train, as it would aid his recovery to feel he was a part of the team again. She also approaches Nathan Woods, the youth team keeper who has been covering Viv's absence in the first team, about he joining Viv for some practice sessions together. When Viv is invited to Nathan's home for tea, Mrs Woods lets slip that Naomi paid Nathan a visit, and Viv now sees Nathan as a threat to his position, setting about getting him out of the club.

 

On the road to recovery, Viv's potential for the managerial position is realised, and he asks Naomi to assist Ryan with his inner demons about returning to playing after the whole season out with a broken leg. It turns out the best medicine for Ryan was a kick to his leg from his girlfriend's irate father, to show him that every knock he will receive won't result in another broken leg!