Town boss Paul Jewell says he will decide whether to name Michael Chopra in his starting line-up against his old club Cardiff on Saturday on what’s best for the team. Yesterday, Chopra was charged with various breaches of the rules of racing by the British Horseracing Authority with a hearing due to take place in January.

Jewell told the club site: “It’s not an ideal situation for us or Michael, obviously. These are allegations though so we must not be judgemental. They also relate to before he became an Ipswich Town player.

“We will continue to support Michael as we have done through his gambling addiction. He’s our player and as a club we have done everything we can to support him.

“We are here to help him. We have people at the club who are trying to help him on a daily basis. He knows that but he has to help himself as well. We want to get the best out of him. He’s a good player and we want him scoring goals for this club.

“He’s fit for Saturday but any decision I make on the team that plays Cardiff — and any game for that matter — will be based on what is best for the team and nothing else .

“I look at the players on the training ground every day, who is looking sharp, who isn’t and I base my judgement on that and nothing else that is happening outside the club.”

Meanwhile, Doncaster's James Coppinger, who is on loan at Nottingham Forest and is amongst the other eight people accused, has released a statement protesting his innocence: "I am here to state categorically that I have never been involved in any horse race fixing whatsoever.

"I can confirm that I have never done anything which brings Doncaster Rovers, Nottingham Forest, myself or my family into disrepute and I will welcome the hearing in January to totally clear my name."

Photo: Action Images

Stato added 15:35 - Oct 5 Forget the betting stuff he should be dropped because Campbell is a better option. If we played 442 then I'd prefer to see Taylor (when fit) alongside DJ but for Saturday think Martin looks a better option than Chops. Bring him on from the bench with something to prove and that would look like clever man management to me.
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TractorMan added 15:48 - Oct 5 Jewell has given himself the "get-out" to drop Chops there as i'm sure he can't have been totally focussed on training this week with all that is going on. I guess it just depends how fit Campbell really is, but I can see DJ going straight into the XI instead of Chopra.
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Kesgraveblue57 added 16:02 - Oct 5 No question drop Chopra
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Michael11 added 16:36 - Oct 5 If DJ is fit enough i think i'd start him. To me Chops sometimes gives you the impression he jnows he'll start every game regardless of how he plays so this will be a good rocket up the back side! Whether it's Chopra or DJ i'm just praying for 3 points!
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Edmunds5 added 17:32 - Oct 5 Michael 11 Spot on comment, bit like Darren Bent at Villa, started all the time dropped last Sunday, came on and scored. Chops is a finisher but he still has to do more, he cannot just wait for the ball and then try and score a goal, we need blood and guts which Murphy and Martin provide, and we would be foolish to leave DJ on the bench because he would be a real livewire for a quite slow Cardiff defence.

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alliedaz added 17:32 - Oct 5 one thing after another chops or is it you want another free holiday from ipswich town supporters money
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jamesmostevens added 18:24 - Oct 5 Of course, if we drop him and he's found innocent the F.A. might still suspend him in a year's time.
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TractorCam added 18:48 - Oct 5 Scotland and DJ would make me very happy
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BuckieBlue added 19:23 - Oct 5 This is messy. Fair enough as PJ says it relates to Chopra's pre Town life, and I hope he's still off the betting these days, but this hanging over him can't do him (or us ) any good meantime. If found guilty is this a criminal charge or just a ban from racing involvement?
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chorltonskylineblue added 23:36 - Oct 5 Yeah fair enough, as we keep being told, these allegations relate to events which apparently happened before Chopra was a town player. Just like Bowyer was only accused of racism before he was an Ipswich player. Jeez, I honestly can't remember this club having sunk so low.
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manualthetisfanclub added 09:36 - Oct 6 Get rid now,to much baggage unfortunately,to much aggro for very little return!
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RYITFC added 12:24 - Oct 6 We knew Chops had these problems a year ago and we've helped him out. Remember this was before he's time at Town, and clearly it all ties in with his gambling addiction. If this event occurred after we helped him out, like some of you i wouldn't want to see him playing for town again but it hasn't so let's give the lad some support.
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sheepdags added 12:53 - Oct 7 Frankly resting Chopra is not the answer - if anything playing would be a welcome distraction from his problems and most players love the opportunity to score against their old club.
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