IPSWICH Town fans have reacted angrily after five Blues stars were seen enjoying a night out just hours after Jewell’s departure.

The struggling club has confirmed that five first team players were out late ahead of Chris Hutchings’ first training session as temporary boss.

Although a club spokesman claimed no official rules have been broken, chief executive Simon Clegg and caretaker manager Hutchings are said to be “dealing with it”.

Skipper Carlos Edwards – who was celebrating his 34th birthday on Wednesday – last week admitted players had ‘taken advantage’ of Jewell being ‘too nice’.

After Jewell had left the Championship’s rock-bottom club by mutual consent earlier in the day, social networks were awash with sightings of Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, Carlos Edwards, Paul Taylor, Josh Carson and Michael Chopra in Vodka Revolution.

A club spokesperson said: “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.”

Edwards had been due to face more than 100 fans at the Official Supporters’ Club AGM on Wednesday evening. However, chief executive Simon Clegg explained that he ‘did not think it was in the best interest of getting a result on Saturday’.

One eyewitness said: “They were all friendly. Chopra was out but he was not drinking.”

“I think it’s an insult to the club,” said Kyle Jennings, a committee member of the Spirit of 78 supporters’ club.

“I was at the AGM [Wednesday] night and Simon Clegg categorically stated that Carlos Edwards was totally concentrating on Saturday’s match and was not there because he was preparing for it.

“In my opinion they all need to be disciplined. It’s another embarrassing step the club have taken.

“I think we need someone like Mick McCarthy to come in and tell the players ‘You are fools’.

“They need to be told they are in the public eye and have responsibilities.

“They have a duty to keep their heads down.”

A fan, who did not wished to be named, said: “I reckon the players should have been keeping their heads down – not just because of the Jewell situation but also because Town have been doing so badly lately.”

Another disgruntled fan added: “I would have thought it is not the best idea to go out on the same night as Jewell leaving and just a few days before a game.”

Meanwhile, local Labour councillor Alasdair Ross has defended the decision for the players to go out.

He said: “It might have been a planned event for all we know. If it was, I don’t think it should have been [postponed or cancelled].

“A lot of them are young men and they don’t get to go out at the weekends like a lot of us do. A lot of the time they are at home with their wives. All I’m concerned about is the display on Saturday.”