Paul Jewell defiant as Ipswich fans turn following latest defeat by Derby County

Ipswich manager Paul Jewell (GETTY IMAGES)

Ipswich Town last night quashed reports that manager Paul Jewell has quit the club. Whispers spread around Portman Road that Jewell had left following a last-minute defeat to Derby County. However, Ipswich denied that rumour and said he remains in charge for now.

Assistant manager Chris Hutchings was sent up to face the media rather than Jewell, who had said he was contemplating his future after Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Hull.

“Paul is manager of the football club at this moment in time,” said Hutchings. “He’s in the office watching the DVD. He wears his heart on his sleeve and he’s very disappointed because we’ve conceded another goal late on, as we have on four or five occasions now. When that happens it hurts. Now we’ve got to come out fighting for another game on Saturday.”

When asked if he and Jewell would be in charge for this weekend’s home match against Sheffield Wednesday, Hutchings added: “You’ll have to ask [owner] Marcus [Evans]. We’re bottom of the league but we’re going about our jobs, unless we’re told otherwise.”

Town slid to the foot of the table after stretching their winless run to 11 games. DJ Campbell prodded them into a first-half lead but Theo Robinson poached an equaliser, after a mistake by goalkeeper Stephen Henderson, and Nathan Tyson grabbed a late winner for Derby.

The winning goal sparked jeers of derision from the home fans, who also chanted “You’re getting sacked in the morning” at Jewell.

The Derby manager, Nigel Clough, said: “It was deserved, on the balance of play, and some of the stuff we played in the second half was exceptionally good. You’re always worried when you have so much of the game and it’s still 1-1.

“But I think we deserved it and we’re five games unbeaten now, which makes me delighted.”

Ipswich Town (4-4-2): Henderson; Edwards, Chambers, Higginbotham, Cresswell; Drury (Scotland, 63), Reo-Coker, Wellens, Martin; Emmanuel-Thomas, Campbell (Chopra, 63).

Substitutes not used: Loach (gk), Hyam, Smith, Mohsni, Carson.

Derby County (4-4-2): Legzdins; Brayford, Buxton, Keogh, O’Connor; Coutts, Bryson, Hughes, Jacobs (Davies, 75); Robinson (Tyson, 81), Sammon. Substitutes not used: Deeney (gk) Roberts, O’Brien, Bennett, Freeman.

Referee: A Madley (W Yorkshire).