Three of Town's academy youngsters were in court today after an incident outside Brannigans last week. Antonio Murray, Sam Morrow and Erkan Okay appeared at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court, along with Murray's brother Benjamin and Marlon Bruges, a friend from Cambridge.
Antonio Murray admitted disorderly conduct while Morrow and Okay, along with the other two defendants, admitted being drunk and disorderly outside Brannigans in Cardinal Park on February 25th.
All the defendants received a year's conditional discharge and each were ordered to pay £55 in costs.
The incident occurred after the group had been asked to leave the club and Benjamin Murray had been abusive to door staff. They were arrested after they continued shouting a swearing at the club staff.
Sharon Hector, representing Antonio Murray said of her client: "Antonio wasn't drunk. He had consumed three vodkas and one shot.
"When he saw his brother with a black eye and a swollen face, a confrontation took place outside. He was reacting to a situation because he thought his brother was assaulted by the door staff.”
Murray, on a £485-a-week professional contract with the Blues, called the police, the incident which led to the arrests occurring after the door staff were seen laughing. Benjamin Murray said he had been hit on the head with a microphone and required stitches in hospital.
All three have been fined two weeks' wages by the club and received a final warning regarding their conduct.
Town manager Joe Royle commented: "Our young players are given advice as part of their academy training as to how they are expected to conduct themselves within the local community. In this instance they have let both themselves and the club down.”
Morrow, who earlier in the season left a loan spell with Boston to return home to Northern Ireland without permission, and Okay were made available on free transfers last week, although these decisions are understood to be unconnected with the court case.