Town boss Paul Jewell has confirmed that striker Michael Chopra has suffered a relapse in his battle against his well-publicised gambling problem. The Blues striker, who was left on the bench for Saturday’s game against Crystal Palace, has spent the last three weeks in the Sporting Chance Clinic in Hampshire.

Jewell said: “Michael Chopra’s got a problem, it’s more than a problem, it’s an illness — gambling. There are people in this room, me included, who are no angels and luckily we’ve come through them.

“He has a big problem, an illness, and we knew that when we signed him. We didn’t quite realise the extent of it but credit to Michael for doing something about it.

“After the Brighton game he was admitted into the Sporting Chance clinic where he’s been for three weeks, only allowed out to play matches with no training.

“He played at Cardiff and scored, against Portsmouth where the team didn’t do so well and I thought Crystal Palace was a step too far to play him considering what he’d been going through.”

The Blues boss asked fans to back the 27-year-old in his fight: “I’d ask people to respect his honesty. He’s met it head on, he’s trying his best, he’s been as low as he can be.

“Now he’s feeling great about himself because he knows he’s got the support of the club, the team and I would ask our great supporters, and I’m sure they will, to help Michael through this tough, tough time, and the more support he gets, the quicker he will get better.”

Jewell knows it’s going to be a long process but says he can already see signs of progress: “We know it isn’t going to happen overnight, but already I can see in his eyes a huge relief. He’s opened up his heart, he’s opened up on all his problems. We know how we need to make him better.

“It’s a very sad case but at the same time heart-warming. It’s not easy when you’re in a male environment to stand up in front of people and admit you’ve got serious problems and that you’re ill and trying to do something about it.

“I know from other people’s experiences, you need people around you to help you. We’re there for him and we want the supporters to be there for him.

“But at the same time he’s has to come to the party and help himself. Hopefully, he’s on the road to recovery and to having a great career at Ipswich.”

The striker is now back at the club and was one of a number of players running round the Playford Road training ground with fitness coach Andy Liddell this morning. Jewell says the former Cardiff and Sunderland man will be in the side for Saturday's game at Millwall.

Photo: Action Images

Photo: Action Images

bobble added 11:48 - Oct 27 he can do what he likes with his cash its a free world,relax mickey its not a crime to have a punt. this is not a rehearsal this is the real thing and it only happens once .....enjoy life have a drink ,have a bet ,eat well ,party or else you become bitter and twisted and messed up in the head like keane ......aka the dark lord.....
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evansblue added 11:52 - Oct 27 Its a good move to make this public in order to stop any rumours flying around. Good luck Chops. Beat this thing and bang in the goals for us buddy.
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paddypowell added 11:53 - Oct 27 give him a break for a couple of games, play darrel murphy we need a target man and hes the best we got ,so give him a run out,he wins most high balls put up front.
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Marcus added 11:54 - Oct 27 The worst thing that can happen to a gambler is that they win a bet. Even worse is a winning streak. Why? Because it makes us feel that we're doing smething right. All the best Chops. Marcus (last gamble 2008)
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garethch added 12:05 - Oct 27 Good luck Michael! To those who claim to be free of vices...take a long, hard look in the mirror before casting judgement on others
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CraigEdwards added 12:05 - Oct 27 no point asking him for any tips then by the sounds of things.
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are_these_the_days added 12:07 - Oct 27 Good luck Chops - 'there are people in this room who are no angels' - true Btw whats the number of that clinic ?
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Crock added 12:10 - Oct 27 “Michael Chopra's got a problem, it's more than a problem, it's an illness — gambling." WRONG! Gambling is a choice not an illness.
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Morgan added 12:18 - Oct 27 Crock - yes on the surface it is a choice. You do it or you don't. If you have any experience of mental health issues you will find that those effected do not have normal judgement and are effected by a number of factors anxiety, depression, compulsions etc etc.. He is doing something about it which is the best thing. I hope he gets the support that he needs. Good Luck Chops. You are on the road to recovery.

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brockleyblueboy added 12:27 - Oct 27 People that are making a joke of this should be totally ashamed of themselves. How dare you. Everyone has demons and it is the decent people out there that try and help them. You make me sick. You should be banned from this website. Good luck Michael and we are all behind you. It's never an easy road but with love and support you will get there.
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Mark added 12:32 - Oct 27 We are all behind you Michael, the manager, the club and the fans so I am sure you prove to be one of the best strikers this club has had for many years. Credit to Paul Jewell too for the handling of the situation. It goes to show that sometimes managers have to deal with situations fans are not aware of, thinking back to the weekend when Jewell was critisised for his starting line up.

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Johnhoz added 12:33 - Oct 27 Good luck Michael. I hope you find peace in recovery. Admitting the problem is a huge step. All the best.
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Plums added 12:39 - Oct 27 There are some right plums on here aren't there? Any form of addiction is a terrible blight on individuals and their families. MIchael's fortunate that he has a talent which allows him to earn enough to prevent him spending what he hasn't got but that doesn't make it any less of an issue. He and the club should be applauded for addressing the problem. Jewell's right, we all need to get behind him for the good of Chops and the team.

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howdonblue added 12:44 - Oct 27 Good luck chops !!! Take it out on the oppositions net mate... We are all behind you mate
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StowTractorBoy added 12:45 - Oct 27 Well done ITFC and PJ for backing him. If this site is anything to go by he has the fans 'almost' unanimous support and to be honest apart from the Pompey game I thought he had done very well. Get over this and he could be our hero at the end of the season. I will be backing him for sure at Millwall.
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carsey added 12:52 - Oct 27 I feel sorry for Mrs Chopra but as for the rest ..... what the hell was PJ thinking spending money on an unfit player. You wouldn't buy someone who had a fractured leg would you? As for those who claim it's an illness I would say an illness is not self inflicted and he is just lucky he earns enough to pay for his habit. I just hope he gets his act together properly and starts scoring goals which is all supporters really care about.

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26_Paz added 12:55 - Oct 27 so long as we can drag him out of the bookies for a couple of hours on a Saturday I don't see how this affects his football!!
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Baggins78 added 13:00 - Oct 27 Carsey - I'm sorry but that is an unbelievably naive comment to make, I really don't think you should say things like that when you clearly have no clue about this or the affect it will have had on his life. I wish you well Chops and have a huge amount of respect for you in tackling this head on, it can't have been easy in the environment he is in. Up the town
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simonsays added 13:02 - Oct 27 All bets are off for our promotion chances me thinks!
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BlueCuppaTea added 13:06 - Oct 27 Having an addiction doesn't make him unfit! People don't have addictions out of choice it's a symptom of a deeper problem, the addicitoon is a way to escape that problem. Nobody wants to be addicted to something. How narrow minded. Thank god most peope on this forum have some understanding and realise these players of ours have lives outside their jobs. Just like everyone else

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tractorboybig added 13:18 - Oct 27 The more you read about this squad the the less likely any success is coming.
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Tractorog added 13:23 - Oct 27 He has a problem with an addiction to gambling... but despite that he has recognised his problem, is doing something about it and is a well paid sports star near the top of his sport and a recognised talent. There would appear to be lots of people on this site addicted to making stupid comments slagging the guy off because it gives them some ego trip ... so who has the more damaging addiction?

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blrmy added 13:28 - Oct 27 "There would appear to be lots of people on this site addicted to making stupid comments". Lol - sad, but so true.
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NW10_Tractor added 13:33 - Oct 27 Isn't it good when you have an understanding manager behind you? Another manager would have blasted him, "Productivity is down... Chopra!" "Performance Improvement Plans" "Mitigating Circumstances..." and a certain amout of team humiliation... PJ looks appears to be a "peoples manager" and I just wish there were more managers like that out there. (preferably in the normal work place)

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Lightningboy added 13:41 - Oct 27 All the best Michael..the sooner you are back to your best the better for all of us..100% behind you mate.
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