Town have suspended midfielder Jimmy Bullard for two weeks after an alleged drinking session earlier this week which saw the 33-year-old and striker Michael Chopra turn up to Thursday training more than an hour late. The one-time England call-up, who joined the Blues after his Hull contract was terminated after an alleged indiscretion on a pre-season trip to Slovenia, and Town’s top scorer spent Tuesday and Wednesday nights out in Chopra’s home city of Newcastle.

Manager Paul Jewell, who made the duo train with the youth squad on their return, is understood to have told Bullard to stay away from Town while the club decide what further action to take. The Blues boss has launched an investigation and will comment after Saturday’s game against Bristol City. Chopra, who has not been suspended, could also face action.

Several senior members of the Town squad were in London on Tuesday for a bonding session, enjoying drinks and a meal in the West End when the pair relocated their evening to Newcastle, where Chopra spends most of his time off with his young son.

The duo were spotted by a large number of Tweeters in various Newcastle night spots on both nights, including bars named Bijoux and Perdu, with a claim that at one stage the Blues midfield man was seen with his trousers down. Bullard was also said to be at a casino on Wednesday with his former Hull team-mate Nolberto Solano and Stoke’s Cameron Jerome.

In addition to Bullard, veteran Peruvian international Solano is also set for trouble as he missed a reserve game with his current club Hartlepool, manager Neale Cooper commenting: “Nobby didn't turn up, I cannot really comment at the moment. He was meant to be there, but never appeared. We will see what happens after that.''

New signing Ryan Stevenson, veteran Lee Bowyer or Northern Ireland international Josh Carson could take Bullard’s place on the Town bench for the Bristol City match.

Photo: Action Images

jocasaja added 10:31 - Mar 3 Bullard should never have been signed in the first place - not that good - overated- More of a clown than a footballer - rather have another Andy Drury or Luke Hyam anyday - ship him out and accept the loss. Very dissapointed in Chopra- obviously not the sharpest tool in the box!!
0

bluearmy4life added 10:32 - Mar 3 Dissboyitfc- Fair point. By the sounds of things JB Went over board. An apology to the club and Fans and a fine. Two very talented footballers.
0

tellitasiseeit added 10:48 - Mar 3 About time,He has had a drinking problem for some time now .I have seen him out side the training ground early one morning and he could not stand up strait he was drunk. I understand that he was told to leave the training ground because he was in not in any fit state to train. I do not think he has played in the team since that time, He acts about seeming playful but that may be because he is not sober/ Chopra what the hell was he doing at a Casino? I hope this is not as bad as it sounds. Why did these two players not stop with the team in London if it was to be a Bonding Session for the team. Out of order from both players.

0

bobble added 10:57 - Mar 3 only problem with this drinking session is only 2 players were involved i would have preferred to hear 12-16 players were involved so i knew we had a proper team out there representing us properly ..sack everyone who whinges about players having a few beers this is not saudi Arabia we live in, its Europe and we drink beer if we like..bugger these islamic/presbyterian teetotallers who are trying to ruin our way of life

0

bobble added 10:58 - Mar 3 only problem with this drinking session is only 2 players were involved i would have preferred to hear 12-16 players were involved so i knew we had a proper team out there representing us properly ..sack everyone who whinges about players having a few beers this is not saudi Arabia we live in, its Europe and we drink beer if we like..bugger these islamic/presbyterian teetotallers who are trying to ruin our way of life

0

warwickblue added 11:01 - Mar 3 It was hardly as if Jewell didn't know what he was signing with these two was it? Everybody else in the world did. Both really talented but with flaws in their personal lives. Well, how many outstanding sportspeople can we put on that list? The sadness is that, despite all the support from the club, neither seems serious about putting things right. You can't "accidently" find yourself on a two-day bender in Newcastle - it takes some planning and, even if you slip off the waggon one night, there's always next day to reflect and/or recover! We don't know all the details, obviously, and we're not on here to judge but it does appear to be pretty poor way to reflect Jewell's faith in them both.

0

tractorboy1961 added 11:08 - Mar 3 I'm sure the management know the FULL facts and we don't so let's just wait and see why Bullard is suspended and Chopra isn't. For me I wanted Bullard badly but he has contributed nothing this season. Maybe he is a joker and good for morale but I am sure we could employ a clown for less that £18k per week. But let's wait and see what actually happened before we judge as in this country we are still all innocent until proven guilty, ,

0

bluelady added 11:10 - Mar 3 Diss fully agree as a highly paid sports person you have a responsibility to ensure you are at the peak of your fitness, having two midweek benders and turning up late for training is not indicative of this commitment at all. I can only assume chops showed remorse and Bullard found it funny or retaliated hence the difference in punishment.
0

TimmyH added 11:14 - Mar 3 Makes you wonder if JB was really ill at the beginning of the year, get rid of JB at the end of the season, he really has let the club down On and off the field, as for Chops I reckon he's suffering from cold turkey on his gambling addiction and needed a drinking partner - either way very disappointing!
0

warwickblue added 11:20 - Mar 3 tractorboy1961 - I honestly thought that Bullard was going to mean play-offs, at least, this season - on the strength of his signing alone! How wrong can one man be?
0

NottsBlue added 11:23 - Mar 3 Always said we shouldn't have bought him, he did well on loan, but he's trouble. He's now showing his true colours, not performing and taking (probably) the largest wages at the club. JB is a waste of space.
0

HighSeasBlue added 11:25 - Mar 3 Was in Newcastle Wed night. Bumped in Solano in the casino didnt see Chopra or Bullard tho. However I did joke that I wouldn't be suprised to see Chopra in there!!
0

Dissboyitfc added 11:38 - Mar 3 Bluelady... its also more difficult to drop chops, been playing well and scoring, no loss to drop bullard, chance for stevenson then, hope he grabs it. See you all there...coyb
0

roytheboy added 11:42 - Mar 3 I'm very disappointed in you especially Jimmy, you are one of my favourite players and like many others, I was happy to give you my vote last season for player of the year, I would have liked you to have been playing more this season and appreciate that you would have liked to be playing also, however you will not receive any favours from the club or supporters, if you continue to disrupt the club and your fellow players this way, you are very well paid and we deserve better from you, everyone acts irresponsibly occasionally but Jimmy it's time to grow up mate.

0

DurhamTownFan added 11:55 - Mar 3 I'm also confused about why only Bullard... Perhaps PJ sees Chop's influence in the team more, but it surely MUST have been chopra's idea to go to Newcastle..? Confusing!
0

dirtydingusmagee added 11:58 - Mar 3 ITFC been having a great season ,due to hard graft nice to see the dynamic duo taking it seriously !
0

Garv added 12:01 - Mar 3 I still say Bullard should have been signed, like he was. It's all well and good after the event when he hasn't played very well to say 'We should never have signed him'. Shame on you if are one of these people. I do think all this "dont let him play for the club again", "sack him" stuff is over the top. It's one incident. Just because things happened at Hull you can't use that to punish him further here. He's never misbehaved for us before, so I think all this knee jerk stuff is just because of what's gone before, but like I say you can't discipline him for something he did at another club. Obviously though we do need to punish him for this. Suspension is a start, a good fine hopefully. Where to go from there? I don't know, I'm not a football manager. We'll see, to be honest I can't see PJ going too over the top in his punishment, but it is a sorry state of affairs and I feel for the manager. Not happy with Chopra either.

0

jas0999 added 12:02 - Mar 3 I hope the people who said he was a good influence withdraw their comments. Chopra should also be suspended. Jewell must take responsibility for signing them.
0

bluelady added 12:08 - Mar 3 Jas ridiculous statement re chops without having all the facts....... you just love it don't you another stick to attack jewell with, so with that stick beat the thousands who were truly delighted by the signing, seems jewell wasn't the only one to be taken in by jimmy and having worked with him before he clearly felt he could make it work, the only person to take responsiblity is the man himself, he should Br ashamed of letting everyone down including himself, a potentially great footballer wasted through his inability to grow up.

0

Lightningboy added 12:13 - Mar 3 Once is excusable but Jimmy keeps on doing these things from club to club..shame,he is such a great talent when he puts his mind to it..you'd think that he'd grow up a bit seeing as he's coming to the end of his career and try to concentrate on playing as much football as possible - especially considering the amount of injuries he's had. As for Chopra,let's hope this is a minor lapse back to the dark side.

0

tractorboyupnorth added 12:27 - Mar 3 Bullard bring disciplinary issues with him no matter what club he plays foror should I say sits on the bench for - silly tw@. Perhaps he was trying to get over the fact that two of towns younger team members are keeping him out of the first 11. Long may it continue Hyam and Drury! COYB
0

BillBlue added 12:42 - Mar 3 I was not going to comment on this one because I have quite strong feelings on the matter. However, as usual Jas has got me going. Jas how can you have a go at Mr. Jewell? Firstly, if my memory serves me correctly, it was Mr. Evans who got involved at the last minute in the signing of both of these players and most fans, including you, were euphoric. More important however, these are both grown men not immature teenagers trying to act like men and are responsible for their actions. Bullard, in particular, would appear to be an immature adolescent who will never grow up and will always lack self respect and responsibility. Chopra is a different kettle of fish. He has a problem and Paul Jewell and, yes, Mr Clegg too, have stood by him and both have been totally responsible in their actions so , on this point, I take my hat off to both of them. What happened in Newcastle none of us truly know though it would appear that Bullard was, as usual, acting the clown. I just hope that he did not drag Chopra into a gambling Casino because I do respect Michael Chopra for what he has recently achieved in that direction and I consider the reason he has not been suspended is because he only got involved to a lesser degree and failed to get fully led astray (I hope!). Being an hour late for training is a very serious situation and he (Chopra) must be punished for that no matter what. Bullard though should, IMO, be thrown out of the club. I am, as usual, in full agreement with BlueLady's comments and with DissBoy's too. COYB

0

kerryblue added 12:51 - Mar 3 Just shows you the lack of respect for the supporters,the manager and the club.Sack him and cut your losses.As for Chopra the club went out on a limb for him and id get rid of him also.Its obvious now why the players arent giving there all for the club.
0

osborne1nil added 12:54 - Mar 3 Probably worth knowing the details before convicting them both. Doesn't sound very professional and I am sure that a hefty fine and a final warning will surfice at this stage if appropriate?
0

StanwayBlue added 12:58 - Mar 3 I have bitten in the past when jas has started up. Given up. Just ignore him!
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls