Midfielder Jimmy Bullard and boss Paul Jewell are reported to have fallen out over the player’s refusal to relocate from his home in Cobham, Surrey to a new base nearer to Town. Bullard was dropped to the bench for Saturday’s game against Watford after a series of under-par performances.

The commitment of Bullard - who is said to be the club’s highest earner on a wage of £18,000-a-week — is also claimed to have been questioned by team-mates, an “Ipswich insider” telling the Daily Mail: “Jimmy has been bragging about his wages and some of the players are unimpressed by this, as well as his attitude when he larks about in training.

“The gaffer has told him he is unlikely to play if he doesn’t make the effort to move into the area.”

Previous managers Roy Keane and George Burley have similarly demanded that their players live close to the club. Keane fell out with Ben Thatcher and Kevin Lisbie over their refusal to move to Suffolk.

Bullard’s form has dipped in recent weeks during the club's seven-game run of defeats, having been one of the key performers during the earlier good run which saw the Blues into the play-off places.

The 33-year-old signed on a free transfer in the summer after his contract had been terminated by former club Hull City, having enjoyed a hugely successful loan spell at Portman Road last season.

Photo: Action Images

stotter added 13:32 - Dec 6 we need jimmy happy and driving us on
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truebluedan added 13:37 - Dec 6 we will never no what exactly goes on, we hear about bullard this and jewell that, I think we need to look at the people running our club? i reckon 90% of our problems start there when will things change??
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Gazelle added 13:43 - Dec 6 This is the trouble with old players, they all try it on with the manager from time to time. We need a squad of youngsters who you give a good kicking when they misbehave.
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AlanMahon2011 added 13:43 - Dec 6 Jimmy Bullard will be awesome in League 1, we need to keep hold of him!
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StowTractorBoy added 14:12 - Dec 6 Most of the fans on the away buses were of the opinion that there was something more deep laying than just lack of form on the pitch and this could well be one of the reasons. There is clearly something wrong although Saturday we did see some effort so if this story is true lets hope Mr Bullard will comply and start to earn his money. If this problem persists then it is another setback in our fortunes and alas Division One will look more and more a possibility. Very sad times at ITFC.

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PunchNoHopers added 14:18 - Dec 6 Was he living in Surrey when he was at Hull then, or has he moved there since signing for us, if it was the former we must have known!?
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HARRY10 added 14:19 - Dec 6 Jimmy Braggard, perhaps or on present form Jimmy Laggard Much as I wouldn't trust anything from the Daily Mail this story is posted up by Mel Henderson, (late of this parish) who has been fairly accurate about Town stuff it also matches in with other stuff that is rumoured about what is going on - and maybe is the cause of the normally shy and retiring Clegg to break rank and start warbling on about how sweet it all is at Playford Road. in that light expect some more vacuous stuff about how much money will be available in January

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TimmyH added 14:22 - Dec 6 I should think there are many problems with the ex-prem players behind the scenes we don't know about at the moment, they all probably think they are bigger than the club they are playing for.
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bluelady added 14:24 - Dec 6 here we go again, "quality" paper article read and believed by gullable town fans! Its back to the lets put two and two together and make six.... Bullard is dropped, not because of a dip in form but because of a bust up with the manager.......When i see an official statement i will take notice, for not its more cheap media......
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mark1969 added 14:42 - Dec 6 Mel Henderson is normally a reliable source , i think perhaps Mr. Clegg does not know what is going on , its about time he moved to Suffolk as well !! Or do we relocate the club to Surrey ? Lets get local passionate people running this club again . i think Jewell is up for it but Clegg is starting to look less committed in my eyes especially as from Surrey he seems to have no clue what is going on .Perhaps he can give Jimmy a lift to each game to save him the chauffer costs !!!

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ITFC1967 added 14:43 - Dec 6 town in disarray....about time someone got a grip...
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Garv added 14:52 - Dec 6 If I could think of a player Jewell was least likely to fall out with it would be Jimmy Bullard, quite frankly the only thing team mates could possibly complain about is the favoritism towards Bullard, or at least that's what it looks like! With the comments and jokes Jewell makes in the press about Jimmy I can't imagine the two falling out at all. Like people have said it is no coincidence that this story has come out now, and not on our unbeaten run, they're kicking us while we're down, simple as that.

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wherescounago added 14:56 - Dec 6 You just have to look at the effort or lack of it that Mr Bullard put into warming up at half time last Saturday to see something wasn't right. Or is it that he is just generally lazy??
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jas0999 added 14:59 - Dec 6 People berated RK for this ... for hopefully there will be no double standards? Plus, 'arm round the shoulder type of manager' is what we heard from some when PJ was appointed ... do the same people STILL agree with that? Treatment of Martin, Carson and now Bullard does not sound like it to me!!
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Seasider added 15:02 - Dec 6 Interesting Manager wasn't at shareholders meeting and sent his deputy to take the flack which didn't materialize as is usual on these occasions.Didn't bother to go this time.A year ago Tony Loughlan stood in for RK who was gone soon after.Deja vu!? The family commitments was that PJ was probably visiting the 'missus'as he calls his wife in Yorkshire. All this talk by Clegg and Jewell is irrelevant as how can what goes on at Playford Road matter when its results at Portman Rd that count;and as for the building blocks looks like they are made of straw;as 19th when Jewell took over and 21st now. posters on here still say that Paul Jewell is a good manager how can they possibly justify this assumption on the league position now and the heavy defeats we suffered at the end of last season and this.

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bigfatjoe2 added 15:10 - Dec 6 If he turns up for training and matches on time who cares where he lives as for bragging about wages and not trying that's a problem, but he's shown at hull he will sit and take his money so let's hope they sort it sooner rather than later
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Bluetone added 15:12 - Dec 6 His ability is not in question, his motivation, his attitude and his character most definitely is. Why isn't more attention paid towards these important issues and characteristics before a player is signed.
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Garv added 15:20 - Dec 6 Jas I think the reaction on here different to what it was to Keane is because not many actually believe it. No quotes from either party, just a made up quote from an "ipswich insider". Treatment of Carson you say? What, not playing him because he wasn't fit/overweight? Yes terrible treatment that!
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Tractastic added 15:23 - Dec 6 An Ipswich insider? Wonder who? Maybe someone whose good at spin and PR aiming to take the heat off the manager? Its all going Pete Tong.
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Jesney_Havoc added 15:26 - Dec 6 Just imagine his trip to Hull then !
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bluelady added 15:58 - Dec 6 Garv, out of all the negative posters Jas is almost obsessed with his hatred of Jewell, he didnt want Keane to go and never wanted PJ and ever since has jumped on absolutely every point. Many like H32 and others are not big jewell fans but clearly want the best for the club so if things going well will support, even when things were going well if you read Jas posts they always had a BUT in them......!! i tend to ignore now!

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itfc91 added 16:04 - Dec 6 Obviously only playing for the money, get rid, save £18000 a week and get a player in who wants to play for the club rather than play for the cheque at the end of the week.
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brogansnose added 16:12 - Dec 6 This is going to hit sales of wigs ! We are going to have to sign another curly haired player in January, any ideas?
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floridaboy added 16:23 - Dec 6 If Bullard is the issue for the lack lustre performances of late then the answer is to pay up the remainder of his contract and tell him to sling it. For £18k a week we could possibly get 3 or 4 young players from the lower divisions - just like young Cresswell - who are hungry and actually want to improve their football and work hard to better themselves. Bullard is a clown who thrives on messing about. Maybe the majority of players are now completely fed up with the idiot. Act before it is too late and we find ourselves playing at Colchester, Preston etc.

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Surco72 added 16:40 - Dec 6 Jas0999 you would be the expert on double standards ,give Keane as much time as possible to run the club into the ground with continued support but give no time to the man who has to pick up the pieces .Give Jewell the whole season as we did Keane after the worst start in our history where we had 17 points after 19 games at this stage and had been in the bottom three all season ,although somehow you still claim this is far worse ,but then you dont deal in whole facts only what you select

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