Former Blues midfielder Jimmy Bullard has recounted the day a debt collector paid a visit to ex-Town striker Michael Chopra at Playford Road in his new book Bend It Like Bullard, which is published on Thursday and is being serialised in the Daily Mail.
The incident, which was widely reported at the time, occurred early in the 2011/12 season and triggered the former Cardiff striker’s spell at the Sporting Chance Clinic.
"Michael Chopra was a serious gambler. So serious he owed a bunch of gangsters about £150,000,” writes Bullard, 35, who hung up his boots early in the 2012/13 season while playing for the MK Dons.
"One morning, this shifty-looking character came to training. He looked a right handy b******.
"The gaffer [Paul Jewell] called security, who moved the gangster on, but he waited across the road.
"After training, I was standing behind Chops when this bloke reappeared, grabbed Chopra by the neck and said: ‘Are you Chopra?’
"Quick as a flash, Chops replied: ‘No, it ain’t f****** me, mate, it’s him over there,’ and pointed to our left-back, Aaron Cresswell.
"‘It is you, you cheeky b******,’ said the gangster, tightening his grip. ‘Get my money back.’
"‘OK, I’ll get it,’ said Chops. The club gave him a huge loan to pay off his debts, on the condition he went into therapy for his gambling.”
Chopra, 30, left Town last summer and joined Blackpool, but after a season in which he made only six starts and 14 sub appearances and failed to score he was recently released.
Elsewhere, Swansea City are reported to be eyeing a summer move for ex-Blues loanee Jonny Williams. The Swans are claimed to be weighing-up a £4 million offer for the 20-year-old Wales international.