Problem with removeChild

[Leftyplayer]

The code below works, but I'm having two problems. The text is not formatted on the first button clip (but is on subsequent clicks) and, more importantly, the removeChild is not working, so that instead of removing text ("John") before the next one displays ("Jimmy"), it's just adding them on after the other ("JohnJimmyJohnJimmy").

Any thoughts? Thanks in advance

Oh, and any way to do this more efficiently (less code within functions themselves that still shows the text ... this isn't important, just wondering)

var textfield:TextField = new TextField();
var myformat:TextFormat = new TextFormat();
var clip:MovieClip = new MovieClip;
var transManager:TransitionManager = new TransitionManager(clip);

var XPos:uint = 24;
var YPos:uint = 12;
var offSet:uint = 24;

john_btn.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, funcJohn);
jimmy_btn.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, funcJimmy);


function formatLetters()
{
myformat.color = 0x000000;
myformat.font = "Tahoma";
myformat.size = 36;
myformat.bold = true;
textfield.setTextFormat(myformat);
textfield.background = true;
textfield.backgroundColor = 0xFFFFFF;
textfield.border = true;
textfield.autoSize = TextFieldAutoSize.LEFT;
clip.addChild(textfield);
clip.x = XPos;
clip.y = YPos;
clip.bold = true;
}



function funcJohn(evt:MouseEvent)
{
formatLetters();
textfield.appendText("John");
parent.addChild(clip);
transManager.startTransition ({type:Photo, direction:Transition.IN, duration:.3, easing:None.easeNone});
transManager.startTransition ({type:Zoom, direction:Transition.IN, duration:.3, easing:Regular.easeOut});
removeChild(clip);
}

function funcJimmy(evt:MouseEvent)
{
formatLetters();
textfield.appendText("Jimmy");
parent.addChild(clip);
transManager.startTransition ({type:Photo, direction:Transition.IN, duration:.3, easing:None.easeNone});
transManager.startTransition ({type:Zoom, direction:Transition.IN, duration:.3, easing:Regular.easeOut});
removeChild(clip);
}

I'm getting this Error but don't understand it (know it has to do with the child thing: Error #2025: The supplied DisplayObject must be a child of the caller