Striker Michael Chopra has defended the five players who were spotted out in Town on Wednesday. Earlier today, Town said they were looking into claims that Chopra and four of his team-mates were out in Vodka Revolution late on Wednesday evening.

A club spokesman said that the matter is being checked out, despite no rules having been broken: “We are aware that a number of our players were out late into the evening on Wednesday.

“Although they were not breaking any official club rules by being out, this has been brought to the attention of chief executive Simon Clegg and caretaker manager Chris Hutchings who are now dealing with it.”

Chopra launched a robust defence on Twitter, disputing that they were out late: "Did not realise going out on a Wednesday was a big thing. Not as if I was drinking and [was] back home at 11.30. Some people need to get a f***** life.

“I’ve done nothing wrong, it was Carlos’s birthday. You’re telling me you’re going to stay in when it’s your mate’s birthday? Don't think you would. People make things out to be worse than what it is.”

We understand that at least another one the players involved returned home at a similar hour to Chopra.

Birthday boy Edwards had been withdrawn from Wednesday’s Supporters Club AGM as chief executive Simon Clegg felt the players needed to be concentrating on footballing matters given the current situation.

Photo: Action Images

mawwam added 22:52 - Oct 26 Like it leroy
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Edmunds5 added 22:56 - Oct 26 rolly You make a good point, as a fan I feel I dont have any true connections with hardly any of our players nowadays, that sounds bad doesnt it? I dunno maybe. The only player who I feel I connect to is Scott Loach. In all honesty I actually feel more attached to a couple of our loan players, being Luongo and Campbell, they seem to have something about them, a little bit of charisma with a decent attitude, maybe its just me.

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milliem added 22:57 - Oct 26 If Chopra and co had gone out on the p*ss in London instead of some crummy bar in Ipswich people would have been none the wiser and the Chantry Cockney busybodies would have had to found some other way of getting their pathetic little kicks.
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rolly added 23:06 - Oct 26 Edmunds5 I completely agree!
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Tractastic added 23:13 - Oct 26 Jas0999 - Good to see you back. Unblinkered and one of the best contributors on this site.
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Edmunds5 added 23:20 - Oct 26 Programme about liverpool on channel 5 quite interesting
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Marcus added 23:21 - Oct 26 I want to like Chopra but he makes it really difficult. He needs to learn some tact while dealing with with fans (customers). He needs to realise that criticism also masks concern about where his career is heading and respect that almost every fan wants to see a version of him with his head screwed on.
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bluesimon added 23:29 - Oct 26 I don't care that you were out, whether you were drinking or not or what time you got home. What I do care about is the respect you show towards us supporters At the AGM the biggest moan of the evening was towards the players. Clegg defended the decision for not having Carlos as a guest because he wanted the captain to be preparing for the next game, which is fair enough given whats gone on. Then to find out he is out on the town is very embarrassing for Clegg, and a let down for us supporters who pay your wages and to those who made the effort to go to the AGM.

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Tractastic added 23:33 - Oct 26 Forget nights out I'd like to see him defend his play to goal ratio or maybe justify the transfer fee we paid for him on trhe pitch? No more talk. Lets hope the new manager sorts out the expensive dead wood from this club? Its about time.
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Bob7881 added 23:53 - Oct 26 Who ever gets the job i only they can sort the shambles that has been left. No point in getting personal the new manager will soon find out the passengers and remove them from our once proud club. To the players who want to give your all for the cause we as fans are right behind you. To the ones who like to play at being a pro footballer and only take without fighting for the cause sod off we dont need you. Up the Town lets get some pride back.

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matthewharley added 23:56 - Oct 26 well chopra if mick comes in you will have a big shock and im sure if you mess him around you will soon lose your career
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spanish_archer added 00:08 - Oct 27 Come on Chops. The manager gets sacked. The captain misses the supporters AGM to 'prepare for the game' The lads go on the piss. Maybe Chops should take that mechanics job he was taking the class he was taking if he isn't serious about being a professional athlete. Chops, the grass ain't greener.
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mawwam added 00:51 - Oct 27 Spanish_archer, they had an evening out, what planet do you come from? Seriously this is crazy!!
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KiwiBlue2 added 01:13 - Oct 27 Was it a celebration of Edward's birthday and/or the demise of Jewell...? I would have thought Chopra would have been sensitive to perceptions particularly given how patient Jewell and the club have been with him ....... rather than giving the 'finger' to supporters he would bve better advised to get his head down and start performing on the pitch and saving his angst for the opposition ...... will be interested to see is he starts on Saturday.....

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SamWhiteUK added 01:14 - Oct 27 I think everyone giving them stick is taking this a bit out of proportion. A few players went out, maybe had a few drinks, but who doesn't? Why should they not be allowed to? Do the people criticising feel that they are owed something by the players, who therefore should not be allowed out? They're just humans as well, I'm sure that they could argue that your jobs are more important than theirs, as people do not rely on football, no matter how passionate they are about it and however much they reckon they do. And it was a Wednesday night for pity's sake, not a Friday before a game. Jeez. Ok, maybe it was a bit of an unfortunate day giving the happenings at the club and therefore it could be interpreted in the wrong way, but I feel this is a bit of a non-story.

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mawwam added 01:29 - Oct 27 There you go sawwhite spot on... "Non story"
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mawwam added 01:30 - Oct 27 No... I take that back, this is a positive story, COYB's!
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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 05:48 - Oct 27 On the face of it i have no problem with players going out until 11.30 on a Wed night, as long as they behave, its team building , they are entitled to a social life etc etc. However, when Edwards has been given the night off the AGM " to concentrate on football" and on the day that their manager has been sacked it probably wasnt the wisest move. Chopra compounds it by then going onto Twitter (apt name) and slagging supporters off again. Being a professional football and being paid huge amounts of money to do something most supporters would give their right leg to do (although giving our right leg would probably rule out that career) is more than playing football Mr Chopra. You are an ambassador of our club and a role model. PJ, the club and the supporters rightly stood by you when the depths of your gambling addiction came out , and so far you have repaid that faith with a couple of public outbursts at fans, bribery allegations and not very much at all on the pitch. I suggest you concentrate on your football and repaying people who can see a talented footballer in there somewhere.

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kiwiblue added 05:55 - Oct 27 Some of us have got a life and part of it revolves around the success of our favourite football team. We thought that paying you Mr. Chopra a lot of money would add to that success,sadly not the case so perhaps you should get a life and perform to your potential and not abuse fans. Otherwise I think it will be division three in Scotland for you. Berwick has a race course.

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CleggsClangers added 06:05 - Oct 27 100% agree with chops.
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Dissboyitfc added 08:20 - Oct 27 dozzels..bobblehat....another spot on post. No one would deny them there fun if they had been doing the business on the pitch. Some of these individuals should take a big look at themselves, their off pitch antics ranging from Driving offences to gambling to drunkiness in public to foul abuse of the fans on social websites. Everything in life is about timing, its like telling the wrong joke in the wrong place at the wrong time. Under the circumstances , the club is in dilema and the club captain should have gone to the AGM , to show a united front. Footballers are athletes, i just wish they had the same dedication as some of the athletics heroes, but different breed i guess..... Someone earlier made a valid point, where are the heros ? We have been a poor team for too long and i really feel worried that the future of town in the eyes of having young supporters , not nuch to grip them is there? Big big job for the new manager.....coyb

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dicko15 added 08:25 - Oct 27 Have to say what a role model you really are not chopra swearing on twitter and your continued approach to not really caring about a football club who bought you with all your problems and continue to help and support you. Your in such a priveleged position than the majority of us here just wish the club would sell you and get rid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Bergholtblue added 08:26 - Oct 27 I thought this story had run its cource then some idiot has to pick a phone and tweet......
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Morgan added 08:29 - Oct 27 I do live in the real world also and enjoy a drink but if my poor performances had that day cost me the job of my manager who had supported me through some difficult times in and out of work I would probably have more respect than go out celebrating and instead I would probably feel slightly guilty and concentrate on my work for a bit so that I wouldn't let the employers down again. I don't think it's going our for a drink that bother people it's the timing with the previous nights disaster, being bottom and drifting, PJ's sacking and now your lack of understating how frustrated the fans are. Move on learn from it and bang in some goals today. Fresh start for everyone so come on chops and co get us out of this mess. I will be there supporting you this afternoon so COYB

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BYRNE_16 added 08:59 - Oct 27 People just need to back off. let them be. Who cares.....we do need to mind out business
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