By TownFans.co.uk
October 23 2012

Town Assistant manager Chris Hutchings, speaking to the press after tonights 2-1 defeat against Derby in place of Paul Jewell, has played down reports that the Town boss is on his way out of Portman Road.

Whilst initial reports coming in from the ground indicated that Jewell had resigned and had left the stadium shortly after the final whistle, the club stated that the former Wigan Athletic manager simply was watching a DVD of the game in order to prepare for Saturday's clash against former club Sheffield Wednesday rather than attending the customary post-match press conference.

Once again many supporters made their feelings clear that they believed Jewell's time at Portman Road was up, with a number of fans calling for Jewell to be sacked and a chorus of boos ringing out following the final whistle as Town dropped to bottom in the Npower League Championship with around a quarter of the season gone.

Hutchings, making a rare apperance in the Portman Road pres box after a game, stated that despite the speculation, Jewell very much remained in charge: “He’s not here because he’s in the office watching the DVD, going through trying to put things right. He’s manager at this football club right at this moment. That’s how as it is right at this moment in time.

“He is pretty fed up. He wears his heart on his sleeve. You saw on Saturday how very, very disappointed he was and he’s disappointed again tonight. He says it how it is, but we’ve got to come out fighting again. We’ve got a game to prepare for on Saturday.

“I thought we played quite well in the first half, scored a good goal and then we let them get back in the game. The players have to take responsibility as well. It’s not just the manager and the coaches. Players have to take responsibility out there and the right things at the right time.”

On the subject of if Jewell would still be in charge for Saturday's clash against Sheffield Wednesday, Hutchings added: “You’d need to ask Marcus that question. We’re bottom of the league, but we’ll go about our jobs unless we’re told otherwise. Has Paul spoken to Marcus yet? I don’t think he has. I think he’s in Barbados. As far as I know, no.”